A 16-year-old boy has admitted killing a 49-year-old man during a violent confrontation on a beach in Kent, a court has heard.
Fatal Attack on Isle of Sheppey
Alexander Cashford died after being chased and assaulted by three teenagers in Leysdown-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey on 10 August last year. The incident followed a series of messages in which Mr Cashford believed he was communicating with a teenage girl named 'Sienna'.
Woolwich Crown Court was told the 16-year-old defendant denies murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Thursday 15 January 2026. A related 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, who are related, have pleaded not guilty to both murder and manslaughter.
Luring and a Premeditated Assault
The court heard that Mr Cashford had met the girl by chance in an amusement arcade two days before his death. Claiming to be 30, he exchanged approximately 75 messages with the trio. The messages from 'Sienna' suggested a meeting at her parents' empty home and requested he bring alcohol.
Instead, the meeting led to the promenade, where the two boys allegedly followed Mr Cashford and the girl before launching an attack. A video played to the jury, allegedly found on the 16-year-old's phone and filmed by the girl, captured the chase. A voice is heard shouting "f****** paedophile, I'm f****** 16" and "Get him".
The footage showed Mr Cashford being struck over the head with a glass bottle as he tried to flee. Witnesses described the 16-year-old boy throwing rocks at his "already seemingly lifeless body and head".
Aftermath and Ongoing Trial
Prosecutors stated the teenager later shared the video with others, captioning it "f***** pedo (sic) up lol". A post-mortem examination revealed the extent of Mr Cashford's injuries, which included:
- Facial and head injuries.
- Bruises on his limbs and body.
- Fractured ribs that punctured his lung.
The trial for the two defendants who deny the charges continues at Woolwich Crown Court.
