Yahoo News Lager-swigging Hemlington gang hurl concrete and glass bottles at police leaving one with PTSD
A gang of lager-swigging thugs hurled bricks and bottles at police leaving one officer needing surgery and with post traumatic stress disorder.
Craig Anthony Bradley, Martin Rivers, Samuel Lane and Macauley Owen appeared to be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on Wednesday following violent disorder in Hemlington. A warrant was issued for the arrest of their co-defendant Josh Blackston.
The gang are facing a series of charges following violence against two police officers. The incident took place in the early hours of Sunday, November 26, in which a squad vehicle was damaged and officers injured while responding to a fire at around 2.45am.
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Teesside Crown Court heard two officers attended Fonteyn Court and found rubbish had been set on fire. Prosecutor Paul Rooney said nearby there were six males who were drinking cans of Foster's.
The officers asked the gang about the blaze with one of them saying: 'The monkeys set it on fire'. Mr Rooney said the males were "aggressive", shouting and swearing.
He said the main aggressor was Bradley, 36, who was abusive and arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. However, the court heard he resisted arrest and began shouting at the other males.
'They're are four of you f***ing do them'
Mr Rooney said: "He said 'get them f***ing off me, they're are four of you f***ing do them. They're more of you, get them the f*** off me'. He continued to struggle constantly shouting at the group to get them."
The court heard the co-defendants became "irritated" and one officer extended his baton to deter the men. The officers requested urgent assistance via their radios as Bradley's four co-defendants and another unknown man approached them as a group.
The court heard the unknown male came at one of the officers and in order to prevent the attack the officer struck him causing him to drop his can of lager.
Mr Rooney said: "The situation was becoming very dangerous for the officers. The officers pressed the emergency button on the radios which informs the control room of their GPS location and a message is sent to all police units to attend as a matter of urgency."
CCTV of the violence which then unfolded was played in court - showing Lane, Owen, Blackston and Rivers running away from one officer. All except Rivers and Lane can be seen throwing what appear to be cans of Foster's at an officer.
At one point, Blackston is seen to pick up a piece of concrete and smash it off the floor. The prosecutor said he picked up a piece in each hand and threw a piece at one officer while another of the men hurled a glass bottle at police.
The court heard Owen launched a missile at one with force as Rivers and Blackston made off towards a Cleveland Police vehicle. The court heard Rivers hurled a missile at the police car causing damage to it.
Mr Rooney said the violence continued until other squad cars arrived at the scene. One officer was treated at James Cook University Hospital after suffering multiple lacerations, to the left hand, thumb and chin. He also had swelling to his elbow as well as bruising to his thigh.
The prosecutor said: "The injuries to his hand resulted in numbness to his finger. A muscle was severally damaged, this required surgery which was carried out the following day."
The court heard the officer is receiving therapy for PTSD and has been referred to a senior medical practitioner for medical retirement from the police service.
'The actions of these people have destroyed my life'
In a victim impact statement he said: "I can't bare to hear police sirens, I have difficulty being around anything to do with policing. The actions of these people have destroyed my life, my career and I'm left with life-changing injuries as I direct result of their deliberate actions."
In mitigation, barrister Robert Mochrie said Rivers, 33, is remorseful for his actions but claimed he did not throw anything at officers. He asked for credit for his pleas.
Rivers, 33, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and violent disorder.
Bradley, 36 of Fonteyn Court, Hemlington, admitted assault with intent to resist arrest and violent disorder.
Blackston, 23, of Fonteyn Court, Hemlington, pleaded guilty to section 18 wounding with intent and violent disorder.
Lane, 25, of Eddison Way, Hemlington, admitted violent disorder and breach of a criminal behaviour order.
Owen, 26, from Alwinton Court, Ormesby, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and section 18 wounding with intent.
The hearing is due to resume on Thursday morning and will hear mitigation for the other defendants.
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