Children were grabbed by parents and dragged to safety as two rival gangs brandishing machetes and a handgun brought violence to the streets of a seaside town, a court heard today.
Families, some in swimwear, scattered in fear as the youths from east London clashed in bloody scenes and at least one shot was fired in Southend, Essex.
Shocking footage from CCTV and onlookers’ mobile phones seen in court showed the gang members and their friends – some of whom were children themselves, with one aged just 14 at the time – chasing each other through busy streets in broad daylight.
Two of the thugs ended up in hospital, one with serious injuries, although both survived to appear in court for sentencing this week.
All ten defendants admitted a range of offences including violent disorder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.
Jailing all but one of them, with sentences of up to eight years, Judge Samantha Cohen said they were responsible for a ‘wholly organised, deliberate, gang related incident of serious violent disorder’.
She added: ‘It was the middle of the summer holidays and Southend was full of families enjoying the summer weather.
‘They were not aware that there was a group on their way to Southend to meet another group.
A 16-year-old member of the Southside Newham gang, who can’t be named due to his age, wields a large knife outside the Halifax bank in Southend high street. A placating hand is raised as he approaches an individual
‘The calm of the afternoon was broken… There was what can only be described as a running battle in Southend.’
Basildon Crown Court heard how people connected to the Northside Newham gang – referred to as Group One – headed to the popular resort after learning that individuals associated with the Southside Newham gang, or Group Two, were going there on July 30 last year.
Prosecutor Gregory Wedge said: ‘Both groups arrived by train in Southend.
‘Group One arrives first at Prittlewell train station. Group Two seem to walk down together as part of an intimidating group down the high street towards the Halifax.
‘Group One arrive at the high street, near the Halifax, and the first 999 calls are made at 6.52pm.
‘There are reports of males running around with machetes as long as your arm.
‘People start making 999 calls, shouting “Someone has been stabbed”.’
In chaotic scenes, innocent bystanders ran away as the youths wielded their knives.
Members of the Southside gang swagger down the busy high street as unsuspecting members of the public walk nearby. Violence would break out shortly afterwards
Outside the Dickens Pub, drinkers realised what was happening and ran inside to safety.
In other footage, a youngster from Southside pointed the firearm at rival gang members and let off at least one shot, leaving smoke curling from the muzzle.
The Ekol Viper starter pistol had been converted to fire live rounds.
The Southside gang ended up running into a children’s playpark where they regrouped and took stock next to a mural.
Small children on the equipment fled with their parents who spotted Northside members approaching with their machetes out.
A further clash occurred at 7.20pm on Marine Parade at the seafront in front of people in beachwear, as both groups faced off against each other again.
The confrontation ended when Northside member Lucas Braga, now 18, and a boy who cannot be named as he is still only 17, were seen clashing with each other on a busy street which had bunting fluttering overhead.
The general melee meant it was not clear if they ended up stabbing each other or were stabbed by someone else but both were injured.
The knives are out – passers-by ran to safety as the Southsides, who had come looking for the rival Northside Newham gang, wielded knives and machetes
Gruesome footage showed Braga’s T-shirt turning red from a wound to his lower back – yet shortly afterwards he was spotted smiling and high-fiving fellow gang members in ‘celebration’ of the clash.
When police arrived, an ambulance wasn’t available, so they took Braga to hospital themselves.
The other boy, who had a ‘significant’ injury to his chest, was airlifted to hospital after a brave local woman let him into her house and administered first aid.
A total of ten people were arrested and mobile phones were seized from them.
Police were only able to access Southside phones and found information on Snapchat ‘detailing ongoing tensions’, Mr Wedge told the court.
The gun-wielding youth, who was 16 at the time, suggested bringing bags to conceal knives his friends were bringing.
Family and friends of the defendants filled the public gallery during the two-day hearing, despite all but three of the youths appearing by videolink from prison.
Two of those that did appear, who were from rival gangs, ended up fighting in the dock today despite the presence of security staff and had to be separated by police.
Jailed: Northsiders (clockwise from top left) Isaac Bello, 18, Lucas Braga, 18, Hamza Dinbil, 18 and Tyler Omo-Irogho, 19, and Southsiders Michael King, 18 (top) and Mekai Brown, 19. Other defendants were too young to be identified.
One woman sat with her hand over her mouth with her partner holding onto her as they listened to the evidence.
The court heard from Marc Miller, the managing director of Adventure Island, an amusement park on the seafront, who said: ‘It’s disgusting behaviour in what is predominately an environment for families and children.
‘We need to reassure the public that Adventure Island is a safe place for people to come. The people on the video seem to have a total disregard for the place they’re in.’
Holidaymakers had cancelled trip to the park and young staff stopped coming to work because their parents feared for their safety, he added.
‘This incident has tainted Southend and the businesses here,’ Mr Miller said.
Nick Singer, who runs 18 businesses in the area including a bowling alley, revealed business had plummeted in the wake of the violence.
His ten-year-old daughter had also wept with fear and begged him not to go to work ‘because she was worried something would happen to me’.
‘The next day, no one came to Southend. It was a ghost town – it was like there was tumble weed,’ he said.
Lucas Braga, 18, of the Northside gang, has a wound on his back checked as he is arrested. The police officers took him to hospital as an ambulance wasn’t available. A Southside member was airlifted to hospital with serious chest injuries.
‘There’s been a 55 per cent reduction in turnover since the incident.’
Southside affiliate Michael King, 18, of South Woodford, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years. Another associate, Mekai Brown, 19, of Woodford Green, received eight years.
Both pleaded guilty to violent disorder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.
The teenager who carried the gun, who is now 17, was given six years and 11 months for possession of a firearm with intent to cause violence, violent disorder and possession of a bladed article.
The youngest member, who is now 15, received an 18-month detention and training order.
Of two other 17-year-olds connected to Southside, one received a 20-month detention and training order and the other will appear at youth court for a referral order.
Northside members Isaac Bello, 18, of Woodford Green, and Braga, 18, of Stratford, both received two-year jail terms.
Fellow Northsiders Hamza Dinbil, also 18 and from Stratford, was jailed for 22 months and Tyler Omo-Irogho, 19, of Watford, received three years and three months.
Gang members are ordered to the ground as police arrest them and bring the terrifying period of violent chaos to an end
All four admitted violent disorder and possession of a bladed article.
The judge said she was satisfied the Northside group hadn’t been ambushed and were prepared for the clash ‘based on the speed with which you employed your weapons and the fact you walked towards them once you were aware they were in town’
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe – who revealed two suspects were still being sought – said afterwards: ‘I hope their sentencing sends a clear message to anyone thinking of bringing violence to our streets.’
