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Gang jailed for shooting at police during Birmingham riots Gang jailed for shooting at police during Birmingham riots
(about 3 hours later)
A gang who shot at officers during last summer's riots have been given sentences of up to 30 years for what a judge described as a "concerted attack on the police". A gang that lured police to a pub at the height of last summer's riots before opening fire on officers and even the force helicopter has been given sentences of up to 30 years.
The men lured the officers to a pub blaze in Birmingham before opening fire, Birmingham crown court heard. The judge, William Davis, jailed all six for offences including rioting, reckless arson and firearms possession. More than 40 men, mostly wearing masks or hoods, firebombed the Bartons Arms pub in Aston as the civil unrest spread from London to Birmingham in August last year.
Nicholas Francis, 26, described by the judge as "clearly a dangerous man", received 30 years. Jermaine Lewis, 27, and Tyrone Laidley, 20, were jailed for 23 years. Renardo Farrell, 20, and Wayne Collins, 25, were jailed for 18 years. Birmingham crown court heard that the gang attacked the pub to draw police into the area and once officers arrived fired at least 12 shots from at least four handguns both at officers and at the police helicopter in what the judge described as a concerted and potentially catastrophic attack.
A 17-year-old youth, who can be named as Amirul Rehman after the judge lifted an anonymity order, was jailed for 12 years. "The purpose of all this was not to loot or to steal," said Judge William Davis. "Nor was it mindless vandalism. The purpose, the common purpose, was to behave in such a way that the police would come to the scene and then to attack the police."
The court heard that the defendants were part of a group of 41 men – mostly masked and wearing hoods – who were rioting outside the Bartons Arms in Aston on the evening of 9 August. Six men were sentenced on Thursday at the end of a six-week trial – including Nicholas Francis, 26, who was sentenced to 30 years and was described by the judge as "clearly a dangerous man".
The judge said: "Members of the group attacked the building. They smashed windows, they went inside and ransacked the premises. They threw chairs and tables out on to the pavement. Jermaine Lewis, 27, was jailed for 23 years, Tyrone Laidley, 20, was also jailed for 23 years while Renardo Farrell, 20, and Wayne Collins, 25, were both jailed for 18 years.
"Other members of the group stayed on the pavement outside the building. Some threw missiles, bottles and the like at a passing police car. A 17-year-old, who can be named as Amirul Rehman after the judge lifted an order, was jailed for 12 years. Francis, Lewis, Laidley, Farrell, and Collins were convicted of riot, reckless arson and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
"Others lit petrol bombs that had been brought to the scene. Rehman was found guilty of riot and firearms possession with intent.
"The purpose of all this was not to loot or to steal. Nor was it mindless vandalism. The purpose, the common purpose, was to behave in such a way that the police would come to the scene and then to attack the police." Davis said: "The intention was to endanger life. Although no physical injury was suffered, that was wholly a matter of luck. Had the police helicopter been struck, the consequences could have been catastrophic. There may have been no physical injury to a police officer, but the damage to the wellbeing of the city of Birmingham caused by an armed gang prepared to act in this way was grave. It is very difficult to conceive a case of this type more serious than this one."
The judge said at least 12 shots were fired at officers from West Midlands police and the force helicopter, and at least four handguns were used. The gang began its attack on the evening of 9 August, smashing windows and throwing chairs and tables onto the pavement. The court heard that some entered the pub with petrol bombs while others threw bottles and bricks at a passing police car.
He said: "The intention was to endanger life. Although no physical injury was suffered, that was wholly a matter of luck. Had the police helicopter been struck, the consequences could have been catastrophic. When large numbers of police arrived they were pelted with bricks, steel tubes and furniture before officers heard gunshots and were forced to take cover before being given the order to retreat for their own safety.
"There may have been no physical injury to a police officer, but the damage to the wellbeing of the city of Birmingham caused by an armed gang prepared to act in this way was grave. The court heard police realised they were being shot at when they heard the windows of the building behind them being smashed by gun fire.
"It is very difficult to conceive a case of this type more serious than this one." Shortly afterwards the gang ran off and at one point a member of the group aimed a handgun at the police helicopter and fired a shot. Other members of the group then appeared to hand him more ammunition.
As the attack was taking place four members of staff – two men and two women – cowered in an upstairs room of the pub.
"For all but one of these defendants the position is aggravated by the fact that they were party to arson at the Bartons Arms in circumstances which put the lives of those within the public house at risk," said Davis.
"The defendants were completely indifferent to the welfare of those upstairs. All they were interested in was luring the police to the area. The fact that members of staff looking on helplessly upstairs were put in real fear and no little danger meant nothing to them."
At the end of the trial Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Cann said the incident had a deep effect on his officers.
"This could easily have been a murder inquiry. Officers came close to being shot and, in a worse case scenario, the helicopter could have been brought down. Thankfully officers were not injured but we can't underestimate the impact it's had on those involved."
Neil Fielding, from the West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said the prosecution had been "enormously challenging".
"The CPS and the police have worked tirelessly together to bring the offenders to justice within a very tight timescale, both to protect the community from the threat these people posed and to ensure continuing public confidence in the criminal justice system following the events of lawlessness last August."
However, Davis admitted that many of those responsible may never be brought to justice.
"They may never be identified because of the poor quality of the available CCTV footage and because those involved had their faces covered."