West Midlands young offenders attacked other inmates and guards in 'vicious' prison yard assault with weapons

A gang of prisoners who attacked two other inmates and prison officers, some with weapons, then climbed onto a roof where they stayed for six hours have been sentenced to a further 36 years behind bars.

The seven serving prisoners, all of them now aged 18 or 19, launched their attack on two inmates in the yard at Werrington Young Offender Institution near Stoke-on-Trent.

The attackers were: Jamhar Bryan, 19, now of HMP Hindley; Michael Desta, 19, now of HMP Brinsford; Rhys Griffiths, 18, now of HMP Fosse Way; L’Vaion Peniston, 18, of HMP Brinsford; Mason Martin, 19, now of HMP Brinsford; Reehan Nezir, 19, now of HMP Hindley; and Troy Pemberton-Bailey, 19, now of HMP Brinsford.

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Staffordshire Police said the group were all congregated in the yard on June 29, 2024, when another inmate approached them and greeted them.

CCTV then showed Griffiths seemingly trying to lure the victim into a corner with something in his hand before he and the others attacked the victim. Desta stabbed the victim in the head.

Bryan, Pemberton-Bailey, Griffiths and Martin all appeared to pull out weapons and used them to attack the victim while Nezir only watched.

Shortly after, another prisoner was attacked. He was dragged to the ground and assaulted by the group, who were still armed with weapons.

Prison officers then arrived on the scene, broke up the group and got both of the victims to safety, allowing them to receive medical attention.

Both victims went to hospital and were later discharged back to prison following treatment.

All seven members of the group then climbed onto a roof inside the prison. Police said they caused more than £2,000 in damage to barbed wire in doing so.

After around six hours, Desta, Martin and Bryan gave up and came down, where they were detained. Griffiths, Nezir, Pemberton-Bailey and Peniston stayed on the roof.

They threw objects at officers and threw punches at them when they were detained and brought down.

They were all sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on July 10 and given lengthy extensions to their sentences.

Griffiths admitted two counts of wounding with intent, one count of violent disorder and one count of criminal damage to property. He was sentenced to seven years and nine months.

Michael Desta admitted the same offences. He was sentenced to five years and eight months.

Jahmar Bryan and L’Vaion Penison also admitted the same offences and were both sentenced to five years.

Troy Pemberton-Bailey was sentenced to four years after pleading guilty to the same offences.

Mason Martin was sentenced to four years and three months having pleaded guilty to the same offences.

Reehan Nezir admitted violent disorder and criminal damage to property. He was sentenced to one year and three months.

Detective Constable Sam Booth, from Staffordshire Police’s prisons investigation team, said: “These group of inmates launched particularly vicious and prolonged attacks on two other prisoners.

“If it was not for the intervention of officers on site, this incident could have had a very different ending.

“We are continuing to work proactively to take robust action against any prisoners in Staffordshire who continue to offend while they are serving their time.”