Teenage trio "guilty" of manslaughter after man's death on Sheppey beach
A 16-year-old girl, 16-year-old boy, and 15-year-old boy were found "not guilty" of murder but "guilty" of manslaughter at Woolwich Crown Court
Last updated 16th Feb 2026
Three teenagers have been found "not guilty" for the murder of 49-year-old Alexander Cashford on a beach in Leysdown-on-Sea, Isle of Sheppey.
The 16-year-old girl, 16-year-old boy, and the 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in the dock at Woolwich Crown Court to hear their verdict on 16 February 2026.
The girl and 15-year-old boy were found "guilty" of manslaughter, something they'd denied.
The 16-year-old boy had previously admitted to a second charge of manslaughter.
Mr Cashford was on holiday last August, when he was chased by the teenage trio and hit with rocks and a bottle. He was found lying face down in mud, the court heard.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb told the court "these verdicts will change the children's lives forever" adding that the death of Alexander Cashford is a "tragedy".
Mr Cashford had given the girl his number on August 8 after meeting her at an amusement arcade, jurors heard.
Prosecutors claim that all three teenagers later exchanged messages with Mr Cashford under the alias Sienna and agreed to meet him by the sea wall on August 10.
Mr Cashford and the girl walked together along the seafront while the two boys followed behind, the court heard.
Mobile phone footage presented at the trial showed the 16-year-old boy striking Mr Cashford on the head with a bottle.
The 16-year-old boy previously pleaded guilty to a secondary charge of manslaughter, which the other two denied.
Giving evidence, the teenage boy claimed that the police would not have intervened if they had reported Mr Cashford for trying to meet with the girl.
He told the court he did not intend to cause serious injury.
The footage also captures the girl shouting: "F** paedophile. I'm f** 16. You f** paedophile," during the incident.
Danny Robinson KC, defending the girl, argued that the assault was merely an "escapade that got out of hand" rather than a premeditated act intended to inflict serious harm.
Witnesses testified seeing Mr Cashford get kicked and hit with a rock described as "the size of a cereal bowl."
A post-mortem examination revealed significant injuries including fractures to Mr Cashford's ribs, which had punctured his lung, and 30 external injuries.
A pathologist told the court he ultimately died from "chest injuries".
The sentencing is expected at the end of April.