Teen from H&F Among Seven Sentenced for Organised Gang Fight
Guilty of violent disorder which caused 'surge of fear and panic' in Harrow Road
A teenager from Hammersmith & Fulham has been sentenced along with six men who took part in an organised fight between rival gangs armed with knives and other weapons in Harrow Road.
The group received a total of 17 years and ten months' imprisonment after they were sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court.
On Wednesday, 18 March the 17 year-old boy from Hammersmith & Fulham was sentenced to a ten month detention and training order. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder and breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) at the same court on 2 July 2019.
On the same day two teens from Kensington and Chelsea, Jordan Bedeau, 18 and Rhys Herbert, 19 were jailed for three years and two years and six months respectively after pleading guilty to violent disorder, and breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) at an earlier hearing. Bedeau also admitted possession of an offensive weapon.
On Friday, 20 March four other men from Westminster and Croydon were also jailed for offences including violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. Another man also pleadedmuilty to violent disorder at an earlier hearing and will be sentenced at a later date.
Detective Constable Russell Bryan, the officer in charge of the investigation said: "These men, running around armed with knives and other weapons, had absolutely no regards for the massive surge of fear and panic that witnesses and members of the public were feeling due to their selfish actions.
" Although two of those sentenced suffered injuries, it’s sheer luck that no one was killed in this dispute."
Police says that on 2 January 2019 at approximately 7.10pm, they were called to reports of a large fight involving 20 people armed with weapons in the area of Great Western Road and Harrow Road, W9. However, all the suspects had fled the scene in various directions.
Two of those involved were identified shortly after the incident - the 17 year-old boy, who had gone to hospital with a large slash wound to his face and Salmon-Charles, who was treated near to the scene of the incident suffering a single stab wound to the chest.
Both were arrested after receiving treatment for their part in the disorder.
Officers then recovered and trawled through hundreds of hours of CCTV from different venues around the scene of the incident. They identified a further six suspects, who had brandished at least seven knives, machetes and at least one firearm during the fight.
The CCTV images led detectives to identify a grey vehicle which arrived at the scene just after 7pm with teh 17 year-old boy and Bedeau inside. It was followed by a red car carrying Herbert.
On 22 January, officers visited the Bedeau family home and found Bedeau and Herbert inside and during a search of the property, officers located clothing matching that of the suspects identified in the CCTV.
The other suspects were all arrested after being identified by officers.
DC Bryan added: " Violence of this nature has absolutely no place on the streets of London. Officers will continue to work around the clock to disrupt criminal behaviour and arrest those who think they can get away with acts of violence."
March 26, 2020