STELIOS ANATSELLOPOULOS HORRIFIC KENDAL HOSTAGE TERROR IN CROWN COURT SHOCKER

In a disturbing series of events that unfolded in Kendal, a man named Stelios Andreas Anatselopoulos was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison for a series of violent and frightening offences that included kidnapping, assault, and sexual misconduct involving vulnerable children and adults.

The incident began on the evening of November 11, when Anatselopoulos, who was residing at Town View Fields Hostel in Kendal, embarked on a violent spree that would leave the community shaken. Dressed in a balaclava, he first targeted a woman walking along Highgate, frightening her so severely that she had to push him aside in her attempt to escape. This initial act of intimidation was followed by a brutal assault on a man nearby, whom Anatselopoulos punched three times, resulting in injuries severe enough to require surgical intervention.

Continuing his rampage, Anatselopoulos approached a 22-year-old man with autism and demanded £5 from him. His violent streak did not stop there; at Bargain Booze, he threatened to knock out a 12-year-old boy if he did not surrender a drink, which Anatselopoulos then stole.

The most harrowing part of the ordeal occurred around 6.30 pm at Anchorite Fields park in Kirkbarrow, where three 13-year-olds—two boys and a girl—were relaxing in a shelter. Anatselopoulos, who had consumed half a litre of rum and two cans of beer earlier that evening, approached the children with malicious intent. He butted one of the boys and then punched him, forcing him to drink from a bottle of peach Schnapps. During this assault, he smashed the bottle and held its neck to the children, demanding their names and insisting they call him 'Pete.'

He continued to physically assault the boys, banging one’s head against the shelter, and then turned his attention to the girl. He put his hands around her and kissed her on the cheek, then ordered her to kiss his forehead, which she refused. During this terrifying episode, the second boy attempted to text for help, but Anatselopoulos forced him and the first boy to surrender their coats and mobile phones. When the girl denied having a phone, he sexually assaulted her.

As the chaos persisted, another 13-year-old boy arrived at the scene. Anatselopoulos confiscated his phone and coat and forced him into the shelter to drink beer. The police were eventually called after a nearby resident heard shouts and cries for help, approximately 45 minutes after the incident began.

In victim statements read out in court, the children expressed their fear and trauma, with one stating they no longer felt safe going outside. The first boy remarked that they had been held hostage during the ordeal. During police interviews, Anatselopoulos admitted that he would have kept the children there for hours if the police had not arrived. He also revealed that he wore the balaclava to appear more intimidating and that he wanted to go to prison.

In court, the prosecution highlighted the severity of his actions, describing them as a 'horrific catalogue of offending.' The defense acknowledged that Anatselopoulos suffers from complex mental health issues and accepted that his behavior was deeply disturbing. Judge Peter Hughes QC sentenced him to six years in prison, emphasizing the danger he posed to the community.

The court's verdict underscored the seriousness of the crimes committed in Kendal, leaving a lasting impact on the victims and the wider community.