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To all of those spouting about how the media is making this attack sound more brutal than it actually was i think you will find that this is far from the case. I was one of the victims of this attack and i was threatened with a knife then hit in the face and head 3 times. with regards to the people commenting that there was no bleeding head or loss of tooth these people are misinformed. This again did occur. I personally couldn't care less if these thugs were educated at Eton or not at all is does not excuse their actions. I took great pleasure in giving evidence to send these people down. There was no provocation whatsoever all we were doing was trying to have a good night out.

- Anon, Winchester, 18/03/2010 19:34
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i would like to say i am rhio and theo's younger cuzz. i have read all the comments that people have posted pple have said alot of things like they should be shot and all kind of madness also that their parents should hang their heads in shame. i have been around all of these people my whole life and i can promise every single person that has commented that the parents are not to blame. i am not saying that parents are not to blame in other storys like this but in this case they are not.. my mother took on rhio for the first couple of years of his life and she did a brillient job then he was with his mum and dad and they did again a brilliant job. i am 15 years old and think that it is very wrong what my cuzz has done but i beg yu people that when you talk about the wrongthey have done do not talk about their parents.. people that have time to comment on these kind of things have to much time on their hands. people do not take time to think about what has hapend in these mens lifes... the crime took place along time ago and its only now when my cuz has a baby on the way, and has settled down has been in no trouble with the law since this crime, changed his life style around has he been sentenced . i do not call that justice. if you do then you are wrong. i do not call a baby growing up with no dad for the first few years of his life justice.

- Bob, brockley, london, 17/06/2009 11:08
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I had the misfortune of being victimized by a similar gang of thugs on a train one night. As a lone young woman I was subjected to abuse then attacked and robbed these louts have no moral scruples whatsoever and should pay the full penalty to protect others fromtheir vicious intentions

- Christine Stavely, london, 10/02/2009 08:21
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The media didn't harm the thugs, the thugs harmed themselves with their ugly and inhumane treatment of innocent people. The thugs are turning their lives around? Great, perhaps that means one less beating will be suffered by the public. Interesting that they supposedly came from "good families" and "weren't deprived." Which tells me that they have very very serious problems if good upbringing couldn't stop them from becoming muggers.

- Karvictho, københavn, 09/02/2009 08:50
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If we're simply looking at the facts of the case then its quite apparent that this group of friends decided that it would be fun to attck and rob another group of friends.If anyone believes that this type of behaviour is normal/acceptable and can be excused then they need locking up as well.

- Michael Shaw, london, 09/02/2009 06:27
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Shay. You are ignorant to think that your excuses and whining of missrepresentation can make up for the trauma and fear caused by these idiots. What right do this gang have to steal and beat, however "mildly"..what a cheek to try to make their crimes limited or even just a prank of a group of "well brought up kids".

- Nick, London, 09/02/2009 05:55
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Having been to the court and hearing the evidence for myself I am left with even less confidence in the media than ever! Firstly Rhio and Theo handed themselves in at a very early stage to this case going public. The others sentenced, were advised by there "Law" not to. Secondly I would like you to ask yourselves...do you really think if a gun was involved they would be given bail? They would be considered a threat to society and locked up immediately, but they weren’t! Also, did you see these people on crime watch? i think not...but why? you ask, when there was so much clear CCTV evidence of the whole incident taking place (which if i may add, any people involved with the case got to watch). Answer: because it was not as brutal as the MEDIA likes to make out. Thirdly i will add: the judge clearly stated (having seen the CCTV footage for herself) that there were neither weapons used nor any severe/serious injuries to any of the victims. Last but not lease, we can all glamorise a situation by saying a GANG of BLACK YOUTHS robbed and attacked a group of WHITE UNIVERSITY students. However the colour of they skin makes this case no more or less serious nor does the professions of the victims. Three out of the four put their hands up to their actions and ready to reap the consequences. Rhio, Theo and Reece have all taken major steps to changing their lives around and i will add that none of them come from a neither poor nor disadvantaged background. Families and parents

- Shay, london, 08/02/2009 15:00
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Well, well, another celebration of diversity. Or perhaps not - don't the majority of London's violent criminals come from a particular ethnic background? God, I'm glad I left London. There are still parts of England that haven't descended into third world lawlessness.

- G Egner, NE England, 08/02/2009 13:17
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Please ensure. You have all the facts before making judgement, two do have an Education and Good jobs, were not armed and the victims not left with a tooth missinh and boody eye. Yes it is a seerious crime non the less, however possibly not as brutal as made out. Colour my friends hass nothing to do with it!

- Kerry Adams, london, 08/02/2009 12:52
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mmmm... Once again criminals and thugs from a certain ethnic origin. Whats wrong, can't get a decent education and employment and of course someone else is to blame for their behavior.

- Peter Noterfed, Paris, France, 08/02/2009 06:15
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24% of the black males in the US 18yrs.to 23yrs. are either in jail on probation on parole.70% will earn criminal record in a lifetime. The local lockup in NY Rykers Island is 98% black and hispanic @ US$80000 pa,per inmate.

- james, garrison usa, 07/02/2009 21:16
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put this scum up against a wall and shoot them

- steve, braintree, 07/02/2009 15:58
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No suprise here as mots of London is terrorized by Black /African gangs. Thanks our immigration system for enriching us with multiculturism, not sure of any benefits but there is sure a long lists of cons.

- Nick Nack Paddy Mac, Kilburn, London UK, 07/02/2009 15:32
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There are so many shows on T.V that are based about inflicting public humiliation on the individual, it has become ingrained in our society and our youth. Try watching an free-to-air music channel now and you'll find a litany of soft pornographic imagery masqurading as music videos, where is the respect for women and the individual. Our media it letting us down. Criminal acts are described in music as somethign you should be proud to perform, score points against society.

There needs to be a huge review of how the media has contributed to street crime and the glamourisation of criminal culture.

- Sandy, London, 07/02/2009 13:46
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This sort of thing has been going for years - I well remember a gang doing this in the early '90s at Bromley South Stn. Prison does not help, you cannot civilise people like this by applying western style punishments - perhaps sharia law is not so bad after all?

- Jonathan Montmorency, cooden, uk,, 07/02/2009 12:56
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With low life such as this I suggest 25 years in prison and I mean 25 years. We are spared their presence on the streets and I am sure there would be a deterrent value. I for one am happy to pay to lock such evil yobs up.

- Jonathan, Ofordshire, 07/02/2009 11:51
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Yes there are all sorts of problems in life. Lack of education (which can only be self-imposed), poverty and upbringing can be hurdles but in the end the vast majority of people realise that their success will be born of hard graft and respect (love) for others. Gangsterism is born of laziness, not hopelessness. If we want to solve these problems it is up to everyone to get involved - pressurise the judges and politicians to get it right, don't just moan about it and wonder why it's all gone to pot.

- Marcello, London, England, 07/02/2009 10:58
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I'm afraid that corporal punishment is the only way to deal with these thugs. Thirty lashes of the cane, given in the middle of the Brockley Road in full view of the public, would soon put a stop to their brutish behaviour and dissuade others from emulating them.

- Tom S, Brockley, London, 07/02/2009 10:13
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One of our problems seems to be that we allow judges to define sentences. They almost invariable give far lighter punishments than that which a cross section of the general public believe is appropriate. Perhaps we should let the jury, or another randomly selected group of adults have major input to the punishment chosen. And at the same time, let's make our jails far less comfortable. And have prisoners lose most of their "human rights" save for a basic core set.
Anyone remember "tough on crime"?
I mean does anyone in the Labour party remember "tough on crime"?

- Naomi Sajeri, Manchester, 07/02/2009 10:04
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We need to find some sort of punishment that really deters people like this. I'm no liberal, but I don't think prison does that. What about being sentenced to 5 years office work, and a ban on electronic devices (no mobile phones, ipods etc allowed)during the same period? If they don't work well in the office, they still have to attend,but get no benefits/wages and have to live in a hostel. If they work well, they get a decent wage and a reduction in their sentence, and a return of privileges ie phone.

- andrew, wiltshire, 07/02/2009 08:55
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I have seen these kinds of criminals in NY city trains. It is a tragedy that law and order is not in control on these types of people operating so openly. There should be serious punishment for these people so that it sends strong signal to the rest. Being a victim myself of this type of situation, I think these crimes will only increase during this tough economy. People need to watch out and more police should be put in bad neghborhoods to stop this.

- kanan krishnan, mountain view, 07/02/2009 08:32
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Call them what you may but these men are nothing but thugs. Please do-gooders don't blame their poor backgrounds it just does not work any more. You see people similar to them, regularly in the west end of London swaggering round and steaming through people. It's time the law was changed to lock people like this up for a long time, with NO remission.

- Mike C, Fulham, London, 07/02/2009 06:07
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when a judge gives lesser sentences for these types of crimes,it only encourages even worse crimes from other gang scums like these who really should be doing time in Gitmo and not roaming the streets.These kids need varying degrees of psychological help before they end up in mental hospitals and become a menace and liability to themselves,parents and society.

- Abraham Otu, london,uk, 07/02/2009 02:19
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Yvette," This is all down to poverty and education" So you mean to say who ever is poor and uneducated, has the right to steal and rob?

- Surk, london, 07/02/2009 01:02
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Well done the police for finding there low life.
Well done the victims for identifying them and giving evidence.

Now, will the judge really, really, do his part and give them the maximum time in jail ?

Or ????

- Fred, Midlands, 06/02/2009 23:35
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.This is a message to the parents (IF, that is, they actually have parents.) of this scum: I hope you are proud of your kids achievements, and even prouder that when they come out of prison, which shouldn't be too long, you will have the comfort of knowing that their next victim could be one of your closest friends, or even aa relative. If you have any shame at all, you will disown these biological mistakes publically.

- Joannie, London, England, 06/02/2009 21:34
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Long spell in prison ? what good will that do ? These scum will be proud to have done time. I would strap them to the nearest tree and flog them to within an inch of their lives.....every day for a week.SCUM.. PURE SCUM.

- Nelly Lee, Kingston upon Hull, 06/02/2009 21:00
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Thw
e fault lies with the do gooders and trendy wealthy lefties who all live in a Mickey Mouse world !

- Joe, Swanley Kent, 06/02/2009 17:15
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Besides a mandatory prison sentence, the parents of these thugs should be named and shamed with their photos in the local press.

- V Tan, London, 06/02/2009 16:40
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I am sure that their mother is really proud. It must be a wonderful feeling to think that you have brought into this world another waste of space. Parents of these thugs are unlikely to care so longs as they can claim their benefits.

- Mary, London, 06/02/2009 16:31
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I suspect this has next to nothing to do with racism, and probably very little to do with parenting. There is a culture of disrespect, violence, and anti-intelletcualism amongst a significant minority of young black youths. It is reinforced by the music they listen to and the films they watch. It is peppered with hatred of women, racism against asians and white people, and homophobia. We need a much tougher approach to these youths. Zero tolerance has worked in parts of the States.

- Alan, London, 06/02/2009 16:00
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They are less than animals. And dont deserve to be treated as human beings. They are only brave as a group, one pushing the other on. As individuals they are cowards. Dont blame their social back grounds, dont blame anyone but themselves, for which they have to take full responsibility for their own actions. If violent thugs think they can get away with light sentences and understanding judges, then we perpetuate all that is leading to a break down in society and eventually a violent back lash.

- Bondy, london, 06/02/2009 15:54
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These are men stop making excuses for them and send them down for a long time.

- Harry The Bull, London, 06/02/2009 15:39
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Yvette, london

Your views are exactly why we have such problems in our society, wishy washy liberal nonsense.

I grew up in so called poverty and went to a school where there was no hope.....and instead of blaming the world for my start in life, i took the positives of my up bringing and made the best of them.

There are no excuses for the behaviour of these people.

- Lb, London, 06/02/2009 15:34
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Welcome to London 2009.

- Chris, Muswell Hill, 06/02/2009 15:28
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Subsidised all their lives, and now we'll pay for them to go to prison too. Isn't this really putting the Great into Britain.

- Benjamin, Camberwell, London, 06/02/2009 15:16
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Oh my god are people still trotting out that tired old line about it all being due to poverty? I grew up on a council estate in the 70's and we were in no doubt as to what was right and what wrong. What's happened to that? Now all people seem to talk about is their rights and how somebody else should be doing something. Stopping making excuses for these animals as they'll simply get worse and more numerous unless action is taken. People like Yvette have neutered the Police to the point where people like this simply laugh at them. Who wants to bet this was not there first crime? Nobody? thought so....

- Mark, London, 06/02/2009 15:13
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All our great political leaders have tried to copy the United States social and economic model.
Well done lads, you've made it. London is a third world,bankrupt, crime ridden dump, just like the US.
Give yourselves a big pay rise....Oops silly me ,you all ready have.

- Malcom Brown, Newcastle. England, 06/02/2009 14:39
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The really sad thing is that they will probably be given sentences of not more than a few years. These scum should be used as mine sweepers in Iraq and Afghanistan, to save the lives of brave men and women who are prepared to lay down their lives for the country.

- Deji Ogundero, London, England, 06/02/2009 14:36
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Yvette, London.

It's because of do gooder luvvies like you, that has caused this problem to build up over the years.

People like you are as bad as them, you help perpetuate their behaviour, by trying to understand them.

Decent people want them locked up, not molly coddled.

- P Staker, London, 06/02/2009 14:36
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IN MY MY VIEWS I WOULDN'T LIKE TO COMMENT ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE, BRITISH RAIL DO A GREAT JOB!

- Samuel Cavanagh, maldon Aus, 06/02/2009 14:27
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Sammy,
They regard "community service", or a short spell in Butlins (prison), as a laugh. That's why they don't care. They should get five years in a prison where they are forced to do forty hours hard work each week, and where they don't have any entertainment more advanced than one communal TV, and books and a radio in their cells. And five years should mean five years, not two and a bit. Then they might be somewhat deterred. If not, at least scum in jail is scum not beating people up on the outside.

- Nigel, London, 06/02/2009 14:25
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i wonder what the parents are like,maybe if they were held part responsible and fined it might make a difference??

- Phelps Robert, bussiere poitevine 87320 france, 06/02/2009 14:08
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Sammy, London- They are not "kids", they are adults who have committed an adult crime.
As such they should do "adult time".
That said, on the orders of Jack, Man of Straw, I doubt that they will receive a custodial sentence at all.

- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 06/02/2009 14:01
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Scum of the earth. After watching piers Morgan in France
last night Iam embarassed to be English !

- Anton, brentwood Essex, 06/02/2009 14:00
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In no way is this a racist comment, certainly as I am Jamaican myself, but what a sad indictment of our colour to find the majority of these teen-gang offenders on public transport being black.

Personally I would flog them. Hard and publicly.

PR

- Paul Rice, London, 06/02/2009 13:58
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how awful this is . Its really sad when young people feel that desperate, to treat other people with such disregard.I think its about time this government woke up.This is all down to poverty and education. Our education system is in a total mess. These youths have no hope, or role models. We need to avoid them arriving at this point.The school Curriculum is a mess. I have teenagers at school, so i can speak from experience... I,m fortunate my children, have always had our full love & attention, so we have been able to educate them further.But the school system has been disappointing for them, and the majority of there friends. For children that have no academic interest or capability, there are no practical subjects that are in line with the modern world .Skilled teachers in these subjects have long gone, since we have become a
country for serviced industry, instead of manufacturing....How will this end. I don,t blame teachers, as the majority of them are doing a hard job, keeping everything together, the best they can. How can anyone teach a class of 30 children at a time, from multi cultural backgrounds, dealing with different religions languages etc... they need smaller class rooms, and special language teachers for these children. This would help them,and the children falling behind.
The way these gangs form , are through desperate measures.If you don,t give children, hope and opportunity,they soon become angry,disillusioned,and have total disregard for life.

- Yvette, london, 06/02/2009 13:50
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no comment necessary really
Thanks nu-lie-bore

- Kedge, marlboro wilts, 06/02/2009 13:46
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Lock them up for 20 years with no parole, send out a message. Britian is too soft on crime, one of the many reasons I would never return to live there. They probably have a record as long as your arm already. And yes, their parents are to blame, they raised thugs as children and should be fined heavily at the same time. Hardworking, honest people are fed up with thugs getting away with their evil behaviour knowing there is no real punishment waiting them, time to change that mindset.

- Graeme Brown, Austin, Texas, 06/02/2009 13:41
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Don't know why these youngster bother to commit these hideous crimes. Don't they know about CCTV, witness evidence, etc. They will always get caught no matter how long it takes and, more than likely, will go to prison for somethng as wanting the latest mobile phone. When will these kids ever learn. Go to school, get an education, work hard and make something of yourself. Why oh why do we hear the same story over and over of these lost and deposessed children. Its a shame that they create victims - especially as they seem to be victims of their own circumstances - which they could change if they wanted to....

- Sammy, London UK, 06/02/2009 13:36
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Thugs like these deserve long prison sentences. Let's hope the judge feels as angry as the rest of society do

- Keith Price, Luton, England, 06/02/2009 13:33
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The pathetic gang's parents should hang their heads in shame. This reflects upon each and every one of the gang members families.

- Simon Caleb, London, England, 06/02/2009 13:22
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Undoubtedly they'll be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, i.e. a 6 month ASBO banning them from the local shops.

- Bob, Cheam, 06/02/2009 12:59
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