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Judge hails ‘power of the press’ as daily helps bring racist thug to justice

A judge has hailed the “power of the press” after a “feral” racist thug was brought to justice thanks to a regional daily.

Marcus Marrocco went unpunished for an unprovoked racially aggravated attack for two years before his victim spotted his photograph in a Yorkshire Evening Post report.

The victim spotted 21-year-old Marrocco’s picture on the YEP’s Facebook page after the newspaper reported on a separate offence for which Marrocco and his accomplice Nicholas Walshaw, 23, had been jailed.

Leeds Crown Court heard Marrocco had led a “feral existence” over a five-month period during 2014.

The YEP reported the case on the front page of yesterday's edition

The YEP reported the case on the front page of yesterday’s edition

Kitty Taylor, prosecuting, said Marrocco had shouted shouted vile racial abuse at one of the boys in Roundhay Park, Leeds, on 2 July of that year, before punching, kicking and stamping on him until he was unconscious.

He then went through the victim’s pockets as he lay motionless on the ground, leaving the boy with a fractured eye socket and broken teeth.

Marrocco and Walshaw were not traced over the attack until 12 June last year, after they were both jailed for causing grievous bodily harm in a separate incident.

Marrocco pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and racially aggravated threatening behaviour, while Walshaw pleaded guilty to two offences of common assault.

Walshaw, who is no longer in custody, was given a two-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and told do 100 hours unpaid work.

Marrocco was due to be released from prison in November for the previous offence but was told he must serve a further 16 months.

Judge Tom Bayliss, QC, told him: “You were out of control. You were leading what appears to be a feral existence.

“Thanks to the power of the press, when you were brought to court for other matters, it was also apparent that you were responsible for this.”