Walsall thug who 'went looking for trouble' is locked up

Ben Read and his 20-year-old brother Jordan were passengers in a silver Ford Focus when they spotted Matthew Woodhouse waiting with his son Stephen for a taxi in Caldmore Green, Walsall after midnight.

The pair, who had both been drinking, got out of the car, went up to the other men and asked if they were looking for trouble, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

Then 26-year-old Ben recognised Stephen as a former acquaintance and the pair shook hands before the brothers offered to take the father and son in the Focus to a nearby ATM machine after discovering they were going to withdraw money, explained Mr Simon Hunka, prosecuting.

But the mood changed suddenly after arriving at their destination with Ben offering to fight 25-year-old Stephen who was then punched from behind and knocked to the ground by Jordan, the court heard.

Meanwhile Matthew, aged 52, who had just withdrawn £80 cash, was also felled and had a tooth knocked out by a punch from Ben who took the money before fleeing with his brother in the Ford Focus that was driven by a third man, continued Mr Hunka. The father and son both needed hospital treatment but neither was detained.

Ten minutes later the car was seen being driven dangerously through Walsall near Junction 10 of the M6 by another motorist, Shaun Moriarty, and both drivers 'exchanged words' when they came to a halt at a red light.

After the traffic signal changed a Saab, travelling in convoy with the Focus, overtook the other motorist who was then sandwiched between both vehicles.

Mr Moriarty was tailed into a side road by the Focus which then cut in front, forcing him to stop. Two men, one of whom was Jordan, got out and smashed a side window with a crowbar before the trapped motorist could escape on February 1 last year.

Mr John Evans, defending, said Jordan suffered from epilepsy and was a 'follower rather than a leader.'

Ben Read, of Broadway West, Walsall, who had previous convictions for theft, criminal damage and assault, admitted robbery and was jailed by Judge Amjad Nawaz.

Jordan Read, from the same address and with no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to assault and affray and was given 11 months detention in a Young Offenders Institute, suspended for 18 months.

Judge Nawaz told the brothers: "Your initial display of kindness in offering a lift quickly turned, in a cowardly fashion, to violence. That night you were under the influence of alcohol and looking for trouble and were going to bully whoever you came across."