TWO teenagers who subjected an alleged sex offender to a horrific torture ordeal have been jailed.

The 22-year-old victim had twice been acquitted at sex trials, York Crown Court heard.

But that didn't stop Jamie Kelly, 16, helped by Philip Bilsborough, 17, stabbing his hands 20 times with darts.

Kelly then lit a cigarette and stubbed it out on the victim's face saying: "I am going to make a smiley face on your cheek."

As the terrified man cried and pleaded for mercy during the Boxing Day ordeal, Kelly forced him to swallow a second, lit cigarette, and sexually assaulted him.

He also forced the victim to gag himself with a towel.

"You tortured him," the Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman told the teenagers. "What you did to him was horrific and sustained. I am satisfied that you, Kelly, played the lead role and you, Bilsborough, played a subsidiary, but you were nonetheless an enthusiastic supporter."

He told them: "Whereas feelings in the community may on occasion run high, even alleged sex offenders are not fair game for attack. They are entitled to the same measure of protection as anyone else from louts like you."

Kelly, now 17, of no fixed address, was jailed for three and a half years, Bilsborough, now 18, of Sowerby Road, Acomb, was jailed for two. Both sentences were extended so that both get probation supervision for the next five years. Both teenagers admitted causing actual bodily harm and wounding.

Prosecuting, Duncan Smith said all three were residents at a York hostel for the homeless.

The 22-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was watching a DVD in his room late on December 26 with another resident, when the teenagers banged on the door until he let them in. Both had been drinking heavily.

Kelly "leapt" on the victim and both teenagers punched him hard before leaving. They returned later when the victim was alone and tortured him.

For Kelly, Sharon Beattie said he had had a traumatic childhood and needed long mental health help. He had been getting psychiatric help since September 2006 and had kicked his smoking habit since being remanded in custody after his arrest. He had no memory of the torture.

For Bilsborough, Glenn Parsons said: "He does hang his head in shame." He had been in and out of the room during the second attack and his main part had been to hold the victim's hands while he was being stabbed. He had not taken part in the other torture.


Kelly's childhood trauma

Kelly fears he will end up like his father and suffered a traumatic childhood witnessing family troubles before he was eight.

"No child should have to experience what you have experienced," the Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, said. "In that sense only I have a measure of sympathy for you. It has plainly turned you into what you are today."

By September 2006, Kelly was having violent thoughts that were getting more intensive, suffering from post traumatic syndrome and having flashbacks to events in his childhood.

Although he started getting help then, he found it difficult to talk about what he had endured and will need long mental health treatment.

He was on a supervision order at the time of the torture for hitting someone over the head with a rock.


Bilsborough's home trauma

Bilsborough's supportive family world disintegrated when his mother fell behind with the rent arrears and the family were evicted from their council house.

His younger siblings went to live with an aunt but there was no room for him and he had to find his own accommodation. After going to social services, he had a choice between the hostel for the homeless and living on the streets.

"He felt abandoned, upset, disenfranchised and separated from his family. In that way he fell in with this kind of behaviour," his barrister Glenn Parsons said.


The victim's trauma

The 22-year-old man came to York after being accused of raping a young woman near his home. He had also faced another sex allegation in the past. Neither led to a conviction.

He suffered a mass of injuries, including 20 puncture wounds to his hands and knife scratches to his arm, but none were described as serious.

In court, he was described as a "vulnerable" man now and in the future.