Four admit role in violent family fracas in Telford
The trial of seven men accused of leaving two people with serious injuries after a fracas between families in Telford has ended after four admitted the charges against them.
Seven men had been on trial, facing charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Nathan Stevens and his uncle Shaun Stevens, and violent disorder, which they all denied.
The trial, relating to a violent incident in Bank Way, Ketley Bank, on June 29 last year was moving into its 11th day when the Judge Anthony Lowe was informed that a deal had been reached between the prosecution and the defence.
Declan Taverner, 18, of Fifth Avenue in Ketley Bank, Telford; Andrew Prempeh, 21, of Burford in Brookside, Telford; Tyler Love, 21, of Burtondale in Brookside, Telford and Neon Manu, 19, of no fixed abode, all changed their pleas to guilty on charges of violent disorder.
The prosecution offered no evidence on other matters.
Simon Parry, prosecuting, also told the judge that no evidence was to be offered against Kyle Watson, 22, of no fixed abode; Travis Perkin, 24, of Church Street in Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham and Ryan Ginty, 24, of Manchester, on any of the charges.
Judge Lowe said: “It is a shame it has taken 11 days to get to here.”
Weapons
Earlier in the trial, it was alleged by the prosecution that weapons including an axe and metal bars had been used in the incident which left Nathan Stevens and his uncle Stephen with significant injuries.
Violence erupted in Bank Way on June 29 after two of the rivals agreed to resolve the dispute with a fist fight at Ketley Grange playing fields.
Prosecutor Mr Parry had told the jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court that the incident was an incident of pre-planned violence which involved two rival groups.
He said it had stemmed from a verbal altercation earlier that day between Taverner, a female relative and Nathan Stevens in Oakengates.
Mr Parry said following this there had been contact between the two families, and it was suggested there should be a ‘straightener’.
The four men who entered guilty pleas were remanded in custody to be sentenced on February 8, at the conclusion of a separate trial involving Prempeh and Love later this month.
