Three found guilty of Shrewsbury street brawl

Thomas Barnes, 20, of Whitehouse Gardens, Demi Jennings, 22, of New Park Road, and a 17-year-old youth, had denied affray.

But at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday they were found guilty and sentencing was adjourned to a future date.

Their victim, 20-year-old Alex Owen, was struck with metal bars and wrenches when the group known as the Sundorne Bad Boys descended on Round Hill Close, in the Coton Hill area of Shrewsbury on June 9 last year.

Mr Owen was also punched and kicked and needed hospital treatment following the attack.

He had been working on a classic car with friends when he saw a large group of people arrive in the road on foot and on BMX bikes.

He was trapped in a cul-de-sac and could not escape until a local woman, who overheard the commotion, came to the rescue by opening a gate for him and his friends to get through.

The classic car's rear window was smashed with an iron bar in the incident.

The jury heard that when Mr Owen escaped he could hear the group chanting 'We are the SBB'.

All three defendants denied getting involved in the attack.

Barnes had been a bystander and watched the attack from nearby, his barrister, Mr Kevin Jones, said.

Mr Stephen Scully for Jennings, said his client had been standing at the top of the cul-de-sac smoking cannabis with a friend and was not involved. None of the witnesses at the scene had mentioned a female being involved.

Mrs Debra White for the youth, who could not be named for legal reasons, said he had never denied being present at the scheme but had not been involved in the attack.

Two other defendants, Daniel Page, 21, of Summer Gardens, and Callum Parsons, 18, of Wingfield Close, were cleared of affray last weej after the prosecution said there was insufficient evidence. Four others have previously admitted their part in the attack and will be sentenced along with Barnes, Jennings and the youth.