Boy, 15, detained for Wolverhampton canal attacks
A 15-year-old boy who pushed nine people into a canal in Wolverhampton has been sent to a young offenders institute for a year.
At Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court the teenager admitted five counts of assault and was found guilty of theft and a racially-aggravated offence.
He was also ordered not to go to any canals or towpaths for two years.
During the attacks in September, the victims suffered injuries ranging from cracked ribs to a shattered kneecap.
A 14-year-old who had admitted attacking three people in the attacks was sentenced in January and given a 12-month referral order and ordered to pay compensation to his victims.
Police patrols were stepped up on towpaths after the attacks, between 12 and 19 September.
Christopher Fitzgerald, who was one of the 15-year-old's victims, said he was "still terrified to face the canal again".
He said: "I could have banged my head and drowned or anything.
"I remember trying to climb out of the water and group of them hiding behind the hedge, peering at me and laughing.
"I said to them, 'I suppose you think that was funny', and the one said, 'yeah, it's hilarious'.
"They offered to help me out, but the lad just kicked me in for a second time and stood away… it was disgusting."