Gang 'in attack on Shropshire house party'

Richard Rogers, 19, of Bronwylfa Road, Welshpool; Sam Williams, 20, and Huw Jones, 23, both of Grungrog Hill, Welshpool; Huw-Glyn Jones, 19, of Orchard Green, Llanymynech and Stafford Jones, 20, of Llanidloes Road, Newtown, all deny violent disorder at a party in Maesbrook, near Oswestry, on December 14, 2012.

Rogers also denies dangerous driving on the B4398 and a charge of possessing a wooden axe handle on the same day.

Miss Laura Culley, prosecuting, told the trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday that there was a fight between some men and those at a party outside a house in Maesbrook which quickly came to an end.

Later on a group of 10 males – the five accused and five others who have already pleaded guilty to violent disorder – arrived back at the party. Miss Culley alleged the men had come back "seeking revenge".

She said a car and the inside of the house was damaged, while other witnesses claimed the men who had gatecrashed the party were throwing bottles and one was carrying a metal bar.

"This gives a flavour of the utter, random and mindless violence reported by witnesses towards a number of people by a group of men," she added.

She told the jury that because five men had already pleaded guilty, there was "no doubt that what happened was a violent disorder", and they had to decide whether five before the court had "used or threatened unlawful violence".

She said a witness had seen Huw Jones and Huw-Glyn Jones in the kitchen "looking angry and agitated" but that Huw-Glyn had told the police the witness "must have been mistaken" and denied being inside the house.

The trial continues.