'Clockwork Orange' schoolboys with 'insatiable desire for violence' locked up indefinitely

The trio - who were just 15 at the time of the rampage - roamed the streets of their home town in search of innocent victims.

One was left just ten minutes from death while a second teenager's dream of a career as an RAF pilot was destroyed by his injuries.

The judge told the teenagers their sadistic spree "beggars belief" while the mother of the second victim branded the trio "feral" and said they had acted "like a pack of animals."

Scroll down for more...

The attacks mirrored the ultra-violent 1971 film A Clockwork Orange, based on the Anthony Burgess novel, in which teenage misfit Alex and his gang of "droogs" roam the streets in search of victims.

Lincoln Crown Court heard the boys, identified only as A, B and C for legal reasons, spent an afternoon hunting victims in Boston.

One of them had been drinking lager and smoking cannabis.

First they set upon a 16-year-old boy in the town's Central Park, pushing him to the ground after a short chase.

The court heard how the gang them kicked and stamped on his head and took turns to perform wrestling-style 'elbow drops' on his skull.

Even when he was unconscious the attack continued until he was left for dead, having fits on the ground and with blood pouring from his mouth.

An 11-year-old boy who saw the assault told police: "They were stamping and stamping. Stamp, stamp, stamp on his head."

The victim was in a coma for five days with serious brain injuries, as well as suffering lasting psychological damage.

One of his attackers told police: "I smashed him in the face. I don't care. I hope he dies." Another said: "He deserves it."

Martin Knight, prosecuting, said the gang later pounced on a 15-year-old boy who was chased and floored before being kicked "mercilessly".

He suffered a fractured cheekbone and had to have a metal plate inserted, wrecking his life-long dream of becoming an RAF pilot.

On Wednesday the youths, all from Boston, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and causing grievous bodily harm as a result of the attacks on November 4 2006.

Recorder Stephen Lowne gave them all indefinite sentences.

Boy A, who has been offending since the age of 12, was told he must serve at least four years before being considered for parole.

At the time of the attack he was the subject of an Acceptable Behaviour Contract, which banned him from entering the park.

Boy B, who must serve at least 32 months, has cautions for theft and a public order offence and spent the hearing handcuffed to a guard after apparently threatening to attack his fellow defendants.

Boy C, who must serve at least 28 months, has previous convictions for criminal damage, taking a vehicle without consent and driving without a licence.

Recorder Lowne told them: "The attack on the 16-year-old was not only violent but sadistic.

"The sadism of such an action beggars belief.

"You sought to inflict injury on a young boy who was clearly unconscious on the floor. I find that quite staggering. His life hung by a thread.

"Had he not received immediate and correct medical care, the injuries could have caused death. The medical services had just ten minutes to save him.

"You actively looked for victims and brutally assaulted them.

"You had an insatiable desire to inflict injury and showed a sickening and frightening delight in doing so."

Afterwards the mother of the second victim said: "They have totally ruined my boy's life. He wanted to join the RAF but has now been told he can't.

"He stays at home all the time. We have been trying to get him to go out, but he doesn't want to. It has had a terrible effect on him."