Accused teenage killer claims he was protecting girl from suspected predator

A youth rugby player accused of killing a man he thought was a paedophile has claimed he was protecting a teenage girl who ‘hugged’ the victim. The 15-year-old said he had no idea his friend aged 16, was going to beat Alexander Cashford, 49, over the head with a bottle in Leysdown-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. Mr Cashford gave the 16-year-old girl his business card on 8 August and the boys sent him messages, using the fake…