Teen who pensioner into River Mersey says 'sorry'

A teenage boy who kicked a 74-year-old man into the River Mersey has said he is sorry for his behaviour.Benjamin Bridgeman, of Yardley Avenue in Warrington, recorded a video apology outside court after pleading guilty to assaulting the man on Sunday, April 25.The 18-year-old pleaded guilty to assault by beating and a 15-year-old, who can't be named for legal reasons, also pleaded guilty to common assault.It is believed the 15-year-old filmed the attack carried out by Mr Bridgeman and then posted it on the social media platform Snapchat.The disturbing footage, showed the man kicking the pensioner with force as he stood on the banks of the Mersey.As the victim floundered in the waters those responsible ran away, and laughing could be heard.Benjamin Bridgeman was approached coming out of court and, when asked if he wanted to say anything, gave an apology.He said: "Obviously I’m very sorry and that, you know, it wasn’t supposed to happen. I didn’t realise he was 74 years old."

His mum, who supported him in court, said: "For me, I want the elderly gentleman to get better because my son’s not a rogue."It was something that he did, stupidly, at the minute and nobody wants the fella. What's the word? Suffer."So for me, all I want is for that man to just get his life back because it shouldn’t have happened."Pointing to her son, she adds: "He’s well in the wrong and he knows he’s in the wrong, 100%."

The two teenagers are due back in court to be sentenced in June.In a Victim Personal Statement, the victim’s wife said her husband "believes he could have drowned that day, if it had not have been for the young girls that helped him out."A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson added: "She says he has changed since the attack and has become aggressive, depressed and is reluctant to go out."The elderly victim was rescued by two heroic school girls. Friends Ellie Hughes and Khloe Woods, 14, were walking down the river bank in Warrington on the Sunday and heard someone screaming for help and turned around to find the man, 74, in the freezing cold water.The teens rushed to the man's aid and made a human chain to get him out of the water.