A TEENAGER who carried out 'one of the most barbaric' attacks ever seen by Kingston Police has been locked up for seven years.

William Hutson, 15 at the time of the attack, kicked and stamped on the head of his 16-year-old victim, at Blagdon Park, in New Malden, last April.

Doctors did not expect the victim to survive and he spent 16 days in intensive care and still suffers from communication difficulties as a result of the serious head injuries he sustained in the attack.

Hutson denied all charges but a jury at the Old Bailey found him guilty of theft and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He escaped a heavier charge of attempted murder and robbery.

Hutson, now 16, of no fixed address, was sentenced to seven years in a young offenders institute last Friday, ending his victim's 11-month wait for justice.

The boy, a student at Wimbledon College, had been in the park with friends when a gang of up to 15 youths - members of Croydon's Murder Gang 4646 - approached them and demanded they hand over their mobile phones.

When the boy refused, Hutson set upon him.

Witnesses reported seeing Hutson kick his limp body, which left him with bleeding on the brain. He had to spend 16 days in intensive care, where he lost about half of his body weight.

Officers said he was not expected to recover from his injuries, but he has made steady improvement. The victim, who has no memory of the attack, is still trying to overcome communication difficulties now and has been unable to sit his GCSEs.

A huge police inquiry followed. CCTV and mobile phone evidence proved crucial in the case against Hutson, as well as blood found on his trainers.

Old Bailey judge Christopher Miss took the unusual step of allowing the press to name Hutson despite his age, due to the horrific nature of the attack.

Judge Moss added: "It is quite clear to me that despite his age, no community sentence or detention and training order would be sufficient punishment."

A Kingston Police spokesman said: "The vicious and unprovoked assault led to months of suffering and uncertainty for the victim and his family.

"The imprisonment of his attacker, William Hutson, brings a measure of justice to a young man who has made an unexpected, brave and remarkable recovery.

"Although 15 youths, none of whom lived in Kingston borough, were arrested during the course of the police investigation, the jury at the criminal courts of justice heard that Hutson had been solely responsible for the savage blows which inflicted such grievous injuries."