A ‘troubled’ 20-year-old who assaulted 2 children within hours of one another has been handed a 12-month community order following what the court heard to be a series of aggressive behaviour, fuelled by alcohol.
Kai Glasspool, of Acorn Gardens in East Cowes, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court earlier this week (Tuesday), where he faced sentencing relating to 2 charges of assault by beating.
Glasspool previously pleaded guilty to assaulting both of the children at a hearing on 17th July.
Prosecutor Serena Edwards outlined the facts of the case, which she described as aggressive and shocking.
It was said that on 16th March 2026, the defendant travelled to Portsmouth using the FastCat to visit his cousin, where he consumed alcohol.
Later in the day, he was offered a lift back to Portsmouth Harbour where he would get the FastCat back to Ryde. Mrs Edwards said that whilst in the vehicle, his behaviour is said to have changed; he quickly became aggressive and ‘weird’. It was then that he launched his attack on the then 17-year-old driver – a friend of his cousins.
The court heard that the victim was punched in the face between her bottom lip and cheekbone, leaving significant bruising and requiring her to seek further medical attention at the hospital.
Mrs Edwards also addressed the bench with the aggravating features of the case, with the most disturbing being that a 13-year-old child witnessed the attack from the back seat of the vehicle.
Following the attack, Glasspool continued on his journey back to the Isle of Wight. Upon arriving at Ryde Pier Head, he decided to steal a woman’s mobile phone.
A 15-year-old male witness challenged Glasspool, who was described as aggressive. The court heard that the school-aged boy received a series of punches to the head during the assault, which was first described as painless and fuelled by adrenaline.
However, following several members of the public pulling the defendant off the child, it is said that a sharp pain arose on the child’s head.
Police officers who were on patrol in Ryde attended the ferry terminal and arrested Glasspool.
A witness to the offence told the Crown Prosecution Service that amid the arrest, they heard Glasspool say “I knew I shouldn’t have drunk”.
Defending her client, Eva Ford told the Magistrates of his shame, saying that he had informed her that he was incredibly ashamed and sorry for what he has done.
Ms Ford reaffirmed her stance from the previous hearing that Glasspool struggles with misuse of drugs and alcohol, saying that the offending occurred “all because of alcohol”. It was said that Glasspool, who has ADHD, Autism and Tourette’s, and suffers from trauma relating to family bereavement, was drinking to manage his emotions.
She said that Glasspool has stopped drinking since the incident.
In sentencing, Magistrates said:
“These are nasty offences committed against youngsters”.
They ordered Kai Glasspool to be placed on a 12-month community order, complete 15 rehabilitation days and pay a total of £679 to the court, £400 of which is compensation to be split between his 2 victims.
Lucky he didn’t say any hurty words on Facebook otherwise he might have been really been in deep trouble!
Yet another instance where the illusionary afflictions of an offender are put before the protection of the public, if he, as suggested suffers from uncontrolable and unpredictable actions through drugs and backed up by alcohol abuse then what is to stop him doing this very same thing again and again ,will the defence use the same hackneyed excuses each time to mitigate the offenders behaviour, we are actually saying that innocent people will get hurt and on a regular basis so as give an offender chance after chance to mend their ways.
Look up mens rea, and specifically where it sits in relation to, say autism. Or schizophrenia, or Bi-polar or any of the multitude of disorders that don’t get the treatment they need.
You did know there’s a mental health crisis, yes?
I do. I also know that many thousands have found a very lucrative benefit scam by claiming such illusionary ailments, regardless ,if he is suffering from these supposed ailments the only safe place for him to be is locked up where he can receive treatment appropriate to his condition until such time as his behaviour is no longer a threat to the general public.As for mens rea, the mind must be guilty before any offence is complete , if you take a course of deliberate action such as drugs or alcohol which causes you to commit an offence you will always be guilty.
There can be no justification for alcohol fuelled violence from any member of society, but to dismiss disability and illness that you’re too ignorant to understand as illusionary ailments or illusionary afflictions is disrespectful to those who live with them.
These conditions have a significant impact on people’s lives and to dismiss them so casually is testament to your character.
Autism , ADHD and Tourette’s are not illusionary, or ‘treatable’ requiring locking up. And this has nothing whatsoever to do with benefits scams.
Intoxication cannot be used as a defence in basic intent, but mental health condition exacerbated by it can.
When alcohol triggers or worsens neurodivergent traits (such as severe sensory overload, explosive tics, or extreme ADHD impulsivity), the court must untangle the two influences:
The ‘but for’ rule: The law generally states that it is not enough to claim an action wouldn’t have happened “but for” being drunk. If a person’s aggressive actions were primarily the result of voluntary drinking, they remain liable for basic intent crimes.
Capacity to form intent: Medical experts can provide evidence to show that the individual’s underlying neurological conditions left them fundamentally incapable of forming mens rea, separate from the alcohol’s effects.
Sentencing mitigation: If a conviction stands, official Sentencing Council guidelines dictate that neurological impairments and developmental disorders (like autism) should be heavily weighed to potentially reduce an individual’s overall culpability and penalty.
I have known Kai since he was born. He has ALWAYS had autism, adhd and tourettes. No illusionary scam for benefits, you do know that tourettes isnt something you can fake either, ive seen all his struggles and you dont think he has tried to get help. Hes actually a really good kid he just made a mistake and youre going to try and put your 2p in about some benefit scam and the fact that if he does have these problems he should be locked up. Bless you, you really must be living in a bubble. So lock up any autistic kid that has adhd and tourettes and lands themselves in trouble? What a load of waffle. And as for the drugs part in this, notice how they dont put illegal drugs? Because The only drugs he is on is drugs that are prescribed to him to help with the problems he is suffering with. This article is so misleading. Maybe alcohol is the problem here, alcohol that the government has made legal to over 18s. No one knows what has gone on in that car, hes said hes sorry and has been punished. End of. You dont know whats gone on in his life, hes had it harder than most people will ever have it. Luckily enough he has an amazing mum. We all make mistakes in life maybe keep your comments to yourself if you dont know all the circumstances.
All the usual sob stories and excuses… 6 months inside might help …
Will that cure his autism then and reaction to some chemicals?
Keeping your mouth closed might also help but there we go. Sob stories? You have no clue. If anything he has down played everything that has happened. Hes apologized and has been punished. Is that not enough already for someone who is struggling. You really have no clue do you. Bless your heart believing everything thats written on here. Just be thankful you dont have the experience to know what its really like dealing with the type of stuff he has. I bet hes been through more in his life than u will ever.
Not seen that name in the news for a long time guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree..
Dipstick…you sound more like a d head. I guess keeping your comments to yourself would be too hard for you aswell. What is the point of this. Trying to bully a young boy with genuine problems thats lost nearly everything in his life. Bore off you absolute idiot
Throw a plastic bottle at a copper he would get 2 year’s.. wankers…
I cannot believe all the articles / stories I read on I.E
where numpties on the island assault police on a regular
basis and nothing gets done about it.
The same tough rules should apply on the island
that will make island people respect law and order.
The mainland handled the situation correctly
it is not ok to throw items at police, they are only
doing their job and don’t deserve such treatment.
Funny how he was powerless to stop these impulsive assaults on people but selective enough to pick on the weaker members of the public. He didn’t attack any large athletic men did he?
You know nothing tho do you. If youre going to believe everything in the news your more gullible than you already sound…what a stupid comment
So throwing an empty plastic bottle at a policeman gets you two years in jail, while actually assaulting children gets you a modest fine.
What’s the difference? One confronts the government, the other is only about protecting the public. A clear demonstration of what our political overlords regard as the more serious. It’s why our borders are allowed to be so porous but you had better not complain too loudly or it’s a spell in clink for you.
And pesos get to live among our children with a new identity hundreds of thousands of £ to do that too and they walk away from the most awful crimes. We’re allowing all the boats coming in too. This county’s fkd. And fyi please dont believe everything you hear on here. There was no illegal drugs either. Hes prescribed things thats all and has genuine problems. There was no attack on a child. Maybe said children shouldn’t be out hanging about in cars then. No one knows what the trigger of that night was. Alcohol has a big part to play but guess what. Thats another thing thats legal.