Bridgnorth teen sentenced for gang brawl

A Bridgnorth teenager has been ordered to serve two years in a young offenders institute for his part in a gang brawl which broke out in a quiet Staffordshire village.

A man was stabbed in the chest and back after two groups armed themselves with knives, baseball bats and milk bottles for a pre-arranged fight in Perton, near Wolverhampton, a court heard.

Jordan Williams, 17, from Victoria Road, Bridgnorth, admitted violent disorder and criminal damage.

Stafford Crown Court heard the violence broke out on April 23 last year as the result of an argument from a phone call between Williams and another man.

The teenager rounded up a gang including Kieran Martin, 21, and Aaron Cox, 18, and headed out on foot to meet the man and one of his 'back-ups' Kevin Hutton, the court heard.

As a result of the disorder, the court heard, Hutton, 35, of Castlecroft, Wolverhampton, was stabbed by Martin as he lay motionless on the floor.

He suffered three stab wounds, two to the chest, narrowly missing his liver and heart, and one in the back.

The four youths are all serving time after being sentenced at court yesterday.

Cox, from Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, admitted violent disorder and was sentenced to 20 months in a young offenders institute.

Martin, from Stoke-on-Trent, admitted grievous bodily harm with intent. He was jailed for 10 years and six months.

Hutton admitted violent disorder. He was jailed for two years and three months.

Judge Mark Eades told all of them: "This wasn't spontaneous, this was a planned confrontation on a car park.

"Up to 15 people were present, six to eight were participants, weapons were brought to the scene. Three people at least sustained injury, one very severe."

Speaking after the case, Inspector Pat Shannaghan, local policing team commander for South Staffordshire, said: "These sentences are welcomed.

"They send out a clear message that behaviour of this nature will not be tolerated."