Three teenagers sent a 49-year-old man multiple messages using a fake name before ‘beating him to death with rocks’ at a seaside resort, a court has heard.

Prosecutor Kate Blumgart KC told jurors at Woolwich Crown Court that a 16-year-old girl and two boys, aged 15 and 16, first met Alexander Cashford on August 8 last year in Leysdown-on-Sea, on the Isle of Sheppey, in Kent.

He gave the girl his phone number, and the teenagers sent him messages using the fake name Sienna, eventually arranging to meet him by the sea wall on August 10, the court heard.

Just over an hour after meeting the group, Mr Cashford was pronounced dead.

The 16-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy are related, the court heard. The three defendants, who are each charged with murder, cannot be named for legal reasons.

Witnesses described the 16-year-old boy throwing rocks at Mr Cashford, and calling him ‘a paedo’.

Opening the case on Tuesday, Ms Blumgart told jurors one witness saw the 16-year-old boy throwing rocks towards Mr Cashford, describing the first throw as ‘like a lob’, ‘frantic’ and with ‘a lot of power around it’.

‘Mr Cashford did not react at all, he was lying face down in the mud,’ Ms Blumgart said.

Three teenagers are on trial for the murder of 49-year-old Alexander Cashford last August
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Three teenagers are on trial for the murder of 49-year-old Alexander Cashford last August

The incident happened in Leysdown-on-Sea, on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. Pictured: Police at the scene following Mr Cashford's death on August 10, 2025
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The incident happened in Leysdown-on-Sea, on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. Pictured: Police at the scene following Mr Cashford’s death on August 10, 2025

Police search the area around Leysdown-on-Sea in the aftermath of the incident
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Police search the area around Leysdown-on-Sea in the aftermath of the incident

When one witness shouted at the defendants to stop, the 16-year-old boy shouted ‘he’s a f***ing peadophile’ and the 16-year-old girl also said ‘he’s a f***ing peado’, jurors were told.

Kent Police was called to the Warden Bay Road area of Leysdown-on-Sea after reports of an altercation on August 10.

Mr Cashford was confirmed dead at the scene, and police said he had multiple injuries to his body.

Witnesses said Mr Cashford had ‘a very badly damaged nose’, with blood on the outside and ‘a ping pong ball-sized lump’ on the back of his head, the court heard.

The three defendants each deny one count of murder and the trial continues.