Three teenagers are standing trial at Woolwich Crown Court accused of murdering a 49-year-old man in a brutal seaside attack that was allegedly filmed by one of the defendants. The court heard harrowing details of the incident, which took place in Leysdown-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, on the evening of Sunday, 10 August 2025.
The Fatal Encounter on the Promenade
Alexander Cashford, 49, died at the scene after suffering multiple injuries. Prosecutors told the jury that the victim had been lured to the beach after exchanging around 75 messages over two days with someone he believed was a 16-year-old girl named 'Sienna'.
The contact began after a chance meeting at a Leysdown amusement arcade on 8 August. Mr Cashford gave the girl his business card. His number was later saved in a phone belonging to one of the 16-year-old boy defendants under the contact name "Pedo".
Arranging to meet at the beach, Mr Cashford travelled to the village. He met the 16-year-old girl on the seafront shortly before 7pm. As they walked along the promenade, the two boys, aged 15 and 16, followed behind. The prosecution stated the girl picked up an empty glass bottle during this walk.
The Alleged Attack and Disturbing Footage
The court was told that police recovered a video from the 16-year-old boy's phone, allegedly filmed by the girl during the assault. In the footage, she can be heard shouting, "F****** paedophile, I'm f****** 16," followed by cries of "Get him".
Prosecutor Kate Blumgart KC said the video shows the 16-year-old boy holding the glass bottle, shouting, and then striking Mr Cashford on the back of the head before swinging it at his upper body. As the boys chased the victim, he fell onto the stone floor. The 15-year-old boy then tripped over Mr Cashford as he lay on the ground.
The girl is heard shouting again, "Get him, f****** nonce," before the recording ends. Jurors heard that the 16-year-old boy later sent the clip to three people with the caption: "f***** pedo (sic) up lol", allegedly just before his arrest.
Investigation and Cause of Death
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 7.14pm on 10 August after reports of an altercation. Mr Cashford was found face down in mud with severe injuries. A post-mortem examination revealed he had abrasions all over his head and neck, including a significant injury to the back of his skull with major swelling.
He also sustained bruises and cuts to his arms, hands, legs, and torso. A number of ribs on his left side were fractured, causing his lung to collapse. The court heard Mr Cashford had a pre-existing heart condition and had previously suffered a heart attack.
CCTV footage showed the three defendants walking away from the area where the body was found. Police also found pictures on the 16-year-old boy's phone showing injuries the 15-year-old sustained when he tripped over the victim.
Witness identification procedures placed the girl at the scene shouting, "He's a f****** paedo," and identified the younger boy as the one who tripped during the chase. All three teenagers deny the charge of murder. The trial continues.
