Teen thug who threw brick into a talented young athlete's face, leaving her with a fractured skull, is fined just £200
Heptathlete Samantha Sadler, 17, was returning home from training in the back seat of the Nissan Micra when the thug launched the missile from close range.
Blinded by pain as blood poured from her face, Samantha's only thought was that her dreams of competing for England lay in shreds.
Blinded: The blow left Miss Sadler with a fractured skull, broken nose and fractured eye socket - and she still has double vision eight months on
The blow left Samantha, who was also a model until the attack, with a fractured skull, broken nose and fractured eye socket - and she still has double vision eight months on.
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Her family has reacted with fury after the 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was handed a 12-month referral order and fined £200 by magistrates, in Runcorn, Cheshire, after admitting assault.
Samantha's father Phillip, 49, said: 'It's no deterrent. He has got away with it. We are both appalled by the outcome. We think the case was poorly handled.
Scarred: Samantha's face still bares testament to the unprovoked attack, left. She hasn't modelled since, right
'The police worked extremely hard. We would have preferred the Crown Court and a jury to decide but the charges were reduced so he would plead guilty. This boy intimidated my daughter, causing terrible injuries. She has been scarred for life. '
Samantha, from Runcorn, underwent extensive surgery for serious facial injuries, spent four weeks in hospital and had a ten-hour operation on her 17th birthday.
The A-level student relived the terrible moment her short athletics career flashed before her eyes, saying: 'I was petrified. My eyes shut straightaway. All I could see was blood. I thought I'd never be able to do my heptathlon again.
'I was screaming. All I could see was blood. I thought I'd never be able to do my heptathlon again.'
Samantha Sadler
'I was screaming. It was very painful. I thought I was going to be blind. It was a centimetre away from killing me.'
Samantha was smothered in blood and shattered glass in the attack which happened outside a McDonald's, in nearby Widnes, at 9.30pm last June.She added: 'I was in hospital for four weeks and missed a month of school and loads of important athletic competitions.'I had a 10-hour operation the day before my 17th birthday. The surgeons have been amazing.
'I still have double vision and have to have another operation on my nose.'
Keen sportswoman Samantha represented Cheshire in athletics and was tipped to join the England squad. Yet, despite her injuries, she is running again.
Scene: Samantha was in the back seat when the 14-year-old boy hurled a brick through the window outside McDonald's in Widnes, Cheshire, pictured
She said: 'Because of my eyesight, I can't do hurdles but I'm back to full fitness. I've been training since October. I've come back better than ever.'I value life a lot more and am more determined to be successful. 'My family and friends and my boyfriend have been supporting me.'My scars are physically noticeable but I have been lucky.'
- She suffered fractured skull, fractured eye socket and broken nose
- Her 17th birthday was spent in 10-hour surgery marathon
- Victim's father slams 'appalling' verdict and 'badly handled case'
Heptathlete Samantha Sadler, 17, was returning home from training in the back seat of the Nissan Micra when the thug launched the missile from close range.
Blinded by pain as blood poured from her face, Samantha's only thought was that her dreams of competing for England lay in shreds.
Blinded: The blow left Miss Sadler with a fractured skull, broken nose and fractured eye socket - and she still has double vision eight months on
The blow left Samantha, who was also a model until the attack, with a fractured skull, broken nose and fractured eye socket - and she still has double vision eight months on.
More...
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Her family has reacted with fury after the 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was handed a 12-month referral order and fined £200 by magistrates, in Runcorn, Cheshire, after admitting assault.
Samantha's father Phillip, 49, said: 'It's no deterrent. He has got away with it. We are both appalled by the outcome. We think the case was poorly handled.
Scarred: Samantha's face still bares testament to the unprovoked attack, left. She hasn't modelled since, right
'The police worked extremely hard. We would have preferred the Crown Court and a jury to decide but the charges were reduced so he would plead guilty. This boy intimidated my daughter, causing terrible injuries. She has been scarred for life. '
Samantha, from Runcorn, underwent extensive surgery for serious facial injuries, spent four weeks in hospital and had a ten-hour operation on her 17th birthday.
The A-level student relived the terrible moment her short athletics career flashed before her eyes, saying: 'I was petrified. My eyes shut straightaway. All I could see was blood. I thought I'd never be able to do my heptathlon again.
'I was screaming. All I could see was blood. I thought I'd never be able to do my heptathlon again.'
Samantha Sadler
'I was screaming. It was very painful. I thought I was going to be blind. It was a centimetre away from killing me.'
Samantha was smothered in blood and shattered glass in the attack which happened outside a McDonald's, in nearby Widnes, at 9.30pm last June.She added: 'I was in hospital for four weeks and missed a month of school and loads of important athletic competitions.'I had a 10-hour operation the day before my 17th birthday. The surgeons have been amazing.
'I still have double vision and have to have another operation on my nose.'
Keen sportswoman Samantha represented Cheshire in athletics and was tipped to join the England squad. Yet, despite her injuries, she is running again.
Scene: Samantha was in the back seat when the 14-year-old boy hurled a brick through the window outside McDonald's in Widnes, Cheshire, pictured
She said: 'Because of my eyesight, I can't do hurdles but I'm back to full fitness. I've been training since October. I've come back better than ever.'I value life a lot more and am more determined to be successful. 'My family and friends and my boyfriend have been supporting me.'My scars are physically noticeable but I have been lucky.'
