Pelsall Carnival thugs sentenced over spate of incidents
Yobs from two feuding families who ran riot at Pelsall Carnival in front of terrified families have been sentenced at court.
A group of 18 men were banned from entering Pelsall after a fight at its carnival last year.
Now a group of six have been sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court after pleading guilty to using threatening words and behaviour at the family event on July 8, 2017.
Hundreds of people attended the carnival, which featured a procession of floats through the village centre, but afterwards the family atmosphere turned violent.
More than 20 police officers were needed to control the disorder as drunken arguments spiralled out of control.
Police officer scratched
One of the men sentenced this week, 29-year-old Robert Betteley, of Wolverhampton Road, Bloxwich, pleaded guilty to a second count of assault by beating after he scratched a police officer during the incident.
Judge Amjad Nawaz said: “It’s an ugly incident unfortunately, with families around, children around.
“An argument started involving one member of the family and others got involved. It was a bit of shouting, some were seen to throw bottles.”
Mr Christopher O’Gorman, defending Robert Betteley, said the scratch came about from a ‘brief struggle’.
Four other family members - 25-year-old Jack Beech, of Swanside Court, Lindon Close; 20-year-old James Betteley, of Parker Street, Walsall; 22-year-old Joshua Betteley, of Sussex Avenue, Aldridge and 49-year-old James Lawlor, of Moorland Road, Bloxwich - pleaded guilty to to using threatening words and behaviour on July 8, 2017.
Mr David Swinnerton, defending Beech, said he was at the event with his partner and child who was two at the time.
Ms Katie Fox, on behalf of James Betteley, said: “He had no involvement at all until he saw his brother bloodied on the ground and being arrested.”
Beech and James Betteley were handed a 12-month community order and 80 hours of unpaid work, and Robert Betteley was given a 12-month community order, 100 hours of unpaid work and a £250 fine.
Joshua Betteley and Lawlor were given conditional discharges for 12 months in the hearing on Wednesday.
Scott Bannister, also known as Scott Higgins, 29, of Bloxwich Lane, Walsall, also pleaded guilty to assault by beating and was given a 12-month community order and 80 hours of unpaid work.
Elderly woman targeted
Another member of the family, 22-year-old Matthew Betteley, along with Stephen Page, 27, pleaded guilty to separate charges of affray and criminal damage after an incident on April 10 this year.
Betteley, of Stanley Place, Rushall, and Page, of Rookery Lane, Aldridge, went to the house of an elderly woman and her disabled daughter-in-law and threw a brick through an open window while shouting.
Ms Sophie Murray, prosecuting, said: “Stephen Page shook the front door of the property so hard that he bent a panel causing damage.
“They said they would call the police and the three men left.”
Road rage
Page was also involved with a road rage incident on September 13 last year when he was driving a stolen car without insurance, while disqualified, and threw a crowbar through the rear window of another car in Pelsall Lane.
He pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, criminal damage, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance and was handed 26 months in prison for the six offences, along with being banned from driving for two years and five months.
Matthew Betteley was given a 12-month community order and ordered to undertake 50 hours of unpaid work.
The pair were given restraining orders against the Rookery Lane address for five years.
Councillor for Pelsall Marco Longhi said following the sentencing: “I’m glad these people have pleaded guilty and I just hope that the sentence will prove as a deterrent in the future.”
