TWO Morecambe men who took the law into their own hands and beat up an alleged stalker have both been jailed for nine months. William Inniss and Robert Railton frogmarched the man down the street and into a flat where they punched and kicked him. Preston Crown Court was told that they believed the man had been stalking a 12-year-old schoolboy, who lived near to Inniss in Morecambe, and the police had done nothing to stop it.

Inniss, 31, and Railton, 30, both of Euston Road, Morecambe, pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and unlawful wounding. Jailing them, Recorder Bernard Lever said: "It is extremely important that you and everyone else understands that no one is entitled to take the law into their own hands.

"This offence is so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence is justified."

Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, told the court that the complainant, a man in his late 20s, had been approached by the defendants in West End Road, on September 27, last year.

Inniss spoke to him, saying: "You've been messing about with kids," before they took him by each arm and led him to a nearby flat.

Mr Lamberty said: "Inside the flat he was punched in the face by both men and fell to the floor. Both kicked him in the head and shouted 'beast' at him."

He was then thrown down a flight of stairs and kicked again before being sent on his way.

Sydney Lavine, defending Inniss, told the court that the mother of the boy alleged to have been stalked, had complained to Inniss about what had been going on. Inniss had felt "compelled" to do something and admitted that he had gone "over the top."

Tim White, defending Railton, said that the defendants' behaviour had been "deplorable."

Mr White said: "He felt dissatisfaction that the police had not intervened in the matter.

"But he now understands the police cannot simply act on rumour and gossip."

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