Brutal gang of Cradley Heath youths sentenced after attack (From Halesowen News)

Brutal gang of Cradley Heath youths sentenced after attack

8:00am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Local

A BRUTAL gang of Cradley Heath thugs who punched and kicked two roadworkers in street violence described as "appalling" have been slammed by a Judge.

"This was the sort of drunken incident the public are sick and tired of having to endure fuelled, no doubt, by excessive drinking," said Judge Martin Walsh.

He told the five: "This was a vicious and violent attack on these two men and nobody who has seen the CCTV can fail to be sickened by the violence that was meted out."

The Judge said one victim, 28-year-old Daniel John, had his jaw and nose broken after being kicked and stamped on while his friend 31-year-old Stewart Jones was fortunate to escape with no more than a damaged finger and bruising.

It was a sustained night time attack involving repeated violence and the use of shod feet, said the Judge as he ruled only custodial sentences were appropriate.

James Chater 18, of Peartree Lane: Ricky Stubbs 19 of Halesowen Road: Ryan Cresswell 19 of Wagon Street and 22-year-old Jamie Creswell of Butterfield Court, all Cradley Heath admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr John.

Stubbs, Ryan Creswell, Jamie Cresswell and 19-year-old Adam Willetts of Beardsmore Road, Cradley Heath all admitted assaulting Mr Jones causing him actual bodily harm.

The two Cresswell's and Stubbs were all sent to a Young Offenders Institution for 18 months while Chater who further admitted breaching a Community Order imposed for affray was sent to a Young Offenders Institution for 20 months.

Willetts was given a 36 week term of detention suspended for 18 months, placed on Supervision for 18 months, told to obey a three month curfew between the hours of 7pm and 7am and told to carry out 120 hours Community Punishment.

Miss Rhiannon Jones said the attack outside a Fish and Chip shop in Halesowen Road left Mr John having to take painkillers and he was only able to eat soft food for a month.

In a victim impact statement to police he told officers he had never felt so scared in his life and he was convinced he was going to die.

Mr Jones was injured when he tried to help his colleague with both men being punched to the ground before being kicked about the head and body.

The Judge said it was an "appalling outburst of violence" and it was a joint enterprise by the gang over a period of 90 seconds.

Miss Jones said it was Ryan Cresswell who was the main protagonist in the attack which spilled out into the road and afterwards the gang dispersed before the arrival of police.

But they were all identified from the CCTV footage captured on three cameras which was shown to Wolverhampton Crown Court.