A TEENAGER was beaten to death in a Hereford city underpass in a “revenge attack” by two Lithuanians, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Daren Loader suffered massive head injuries and a girl who tried to protect him had her arm broken, said Stephen Linehan QC, prosecuting.

Virunas Kalasnikovas, aged 23, of Martin Street, Hereford, who was armed with a 4ft wooden pole, has already admitted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

His companion, 28-year-old Andrej Mackevic, of no fixed address, has denied both charges.

Mr Linehan said Kalasnikovas and Mackevic had been out drinking vodka on March 12 last year when they became separated from their friends near the subway in Eign Street at about 10pm.

They heard shouting from the subway and thought their friends were in trouble with a group of local youngsters, who had also been drinking.

“Confrontation rapidly turned into violence,” said Mr Linehan.

The locals were the aggressors and the Lithuanians were attacked and chased. They did not go to police but took the law into their own hands and returned to the subway to take revenge.

They found 17-year-old Mr Loader, of Whitecross, Hereford, alone with two teenage girls. Kalasnikovas crashed the wooden post into Mr Loader’s head, knocking him to the ground.

Rebecca Griffiths, now 18, tried to distract the attackers but Mackevic grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the ground before setting about kicking her.

She was hit with the pole and her left arm was broken.

The trial continues.