A 17-YEAR-OLD who sexually assaulted two women and attacked two men in a night of “mayhem and madness” has narrowly escaped a custodial sentence.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual touching and two counts of common assault.

However the bench was persuaded by a number of character references claiming the young defendant had turned his back on drugs and drink and had made huge efforts to turn his life around.

York Youth Court was told the incidents occurred while the defendant was drunk and making his way through the Tang Hall and Heworth areas of York on the night of April 7.

Wearing a dark top with the hood up, he was said to have approached the first woman, who was walking towards Fifth Avenue, before grabbing her by the shoulders, pushing her to the ground and putting his hand over her mouth.

The terrified woman managed to shake off her attacker, who she said ran towards Melrosegate.

In the second incident of the night, the court was told another female had been pushed into a hedge and forced to the ground.

The first of the common assault victims, a male, was punched in the face after refusing demands for cigarettes and money, while the fourth victim, another male, was grabbed by the youth who had once again failed to get money or cigarettes from his victim. He was arrested later that evening after police were called by a couple who saw him punch one of his victims.

In an unrelated incident, the youth was also charged with the theft of an ornamental samurai sword, from the home of a friend, on April 30.

Magistrates spared him custody, instead handing him a Youth Rehabilitation Order with a 36-month Intensive Supervision and Surveillance order (ISS) and a four month curfew, from 7pm to 7am. He must also regularly report his movements to police under a Sex Offender Notification Requirement.

The sentence came after the court heard from the boy’s father, his legal representative and his support worker at the hostel he was living in.