Five jailed over town centre attack (From Watford Observer)
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Five jailed after fight in Gade car park which left man with brain injuries
10:31am Monday 15th October 2012 in News
Five men have been jailed for a "vicious and sickening" attack that left a man with brain injuries after he was beaten unconscious in a car park in Watford town centre.
St Albans Crown Court was told the fight broke out in the Gade car park at around 2.30am of October 30 last year.
The victim, who was 21 years old at the time and from Edgware, was punched unconscious before being kicked and hit over the head with a waste bin.
Detective Sergeant Neil Langford, who led the investigation, said: "This was a particularly vicious and sickening attack on a defenceless man by a gang of six young men. From the first punch he was unconscious but the attack continued with in excess of 30 blows to his head.
"The victim, who suffered head and brain injuries, is lucky to have survived. While he is making a good recovery physically from his injuries understandably this is something he may never recover from mentally."
Four defendants admitted charges in relation to the attack and another was found guilty following a trial in July also at St Albans Crown Court.
At their sentencing on Friday they were handed a total of 20 years and 8 months in young offenders institutions.
Jahzeel Lewis, 20, of no fixed address, was given nine years and 20-year-old Kyle Monrose, of Carylle Road in Ealing, was given four years.
Craig Silvera, 21, from Hillside in High Wycombe has been sentenced to a total of 45 months, Ryan Monrose, 20, from Stoll Close in Cricklewood, was given 32 months and Fawwazz Momoh, 20, from Vernon Road in Feltham was sentenced to 15 months.
Comments(14)
Honest Rog
says...
10:58am Mon 15 Oct 12
G_Whiz
says...
11:46am Mon 15 Oct 12
Let's close a few places - At least the police will be able to cope a bit better!
And our council tax can be spent on looking after us - not wasted on cleaning up the mess and policing of others!
Hornets number 12 fan
says...
12:03pm Mon 15 Oct 12
Reg Edit
says...
12:37pm Mon 15 Oct 12
Not much punishment for the damage they have caused whilst the victim was defenceless. It seems only luck that he did not die.
There can be no excuse for continuing to attack an unconscious man. The sentences are far too lenient.
Give it a few years and they will be laughing about it over a beer, before going out and doing it again.
It really is about time people like this were locked up for a very long time, one to send a message to the others out there that would do such a thing, and two to keep our streets safe from those who have been caught and convicted of such a crime.
Well done to the police for catching them, poor show to the establishment for not imposing a proper sentence.
LSC
says...
12:52pm Mon 15 Oct 12
The answer is yes, of course, but none so lightly policed.
You used to have to be 21 to get in a club; 4 of these are 20. As the attack was at 2.30am, I'm guessing they were in a club prior to it.
Watford is (in)famous all over the South of England as THE place to over-indulge.
JonBoy
says...
1:44pm Mon 15 Oct 12
Only 2 Ross Jenkins
says...
2:54pm Mon 15 Oct 12
er pressure/hopelessnes
s/boredom/).
God only knows where to begin to prevent things like this.
Reg Edit
says...
5:03pm Mon 15 Oct 12
Now, if the sentence was 20 years for such GBH/attempted murder (serve 10 with good behaviour), then I think even the drunken yobs would get it into their thick skulls that the punishment is not worth the crime.
We need to catch them and lock them up for a good long time. Their sentences need to be published everywhere so that everybody knows what will happen if they attack someone like this. There should be posters up in pubs and clubs, and in the club toilets, giving examples of what happens to those caught doing this.
Punishment and education, a powerful combination!
2 years does not send out the right message in my eyes.
Honest Rog
says...
10:27am Tue 16 Oct 12
It's easy to be emotive and make the case for banging 'em up in the short term but in the long term we, here in Watford, must demand of our local politicians to close these fun palaces. As I've said before; Watford had clubs open until 0200 hrs in the 60s and if you met someone from Wembley they were foreigners. Oh. and there was very little bother.
garston tony
says...
2:42pm Tue 16 Oct 12
LSC wrote:Watford has been a draw for thousands of out of towners for years and that isnt because the police are a light touch its because of the range of pubs, clubs etc that are on offer which are viewed as attractive venues if you're into that sort of thing.
Look at where they are from. Are there really no night spots more local they could have gone to? The answer is yes, of course, but none so lightly policed. You used to have to be 21 to get in a club; 4 of these are 20. As the attack was at 2.30am, I'm guessing they were in a club prior to it. Watford is (in)famous all over the South of England as THE place to over-indulge.
How the town is policed is only of interest to those that wish to cause trouble, as lary and loud as many get when drunk i'm thinking that for the vast majority of people coming to Watford the police dont even enter their mind just having a good time.
Your last line says it all, Watford is seen as the place to over indulge but due to the variety on offer (and cheapness) not because the police will let you get away with things.
garston tony
says...
2:46pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Reg Edit wrote:I'm not into making examples of people, I just believe in an appropriate sentence to fit the crime and I agree with you in principle Reg.
For some people, the thought that IF they get caught and convicted they will only serve a maximum of about 2 years is little deterrent in kicking someones head in. They'll still be young when they get out. Now, if the sentence was 20 years for such GBH/attempted murder (serve 10 with good behaviour), then I think even the drunken yobs would get it into their thick skulls that the punishment is not worth the crime. We need to catch them and lock them up for a good long time. Their sentences need to be published everywhere so that everybody knows what will happen if they attack someone like this. There should be posters up in pubs and clubs, and in the club toilets, giving examples of what happens to those caught doing this. Punishment and education, a powerful combination! 2 years does not send out the right message in my eyes.
What I would say is that amongst other reasons this is why I was and am unhappy to see Troy Deeney playing for Watford. Not only was the sentence light but it just sends out the signal that the consequences of your actions will be trivial and you can just get on with your life even when your victim is serving a life sentence of their own
Reg Edit
says...
3:29pm Tue 16 Oct 12
well said.
Nascot
says...
8:59pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Reg Edit wrote:Ditto.
Tony,
well said.
xyz says...
10:58am Mon 15 Oct 12