A Sunderland father has been jailed for two years for affray following a group attack on a member of the travelling community in Darlington.
Braden Waite, 31, of Borrowdale Street in Hetton-Le-Hole, Sunderland, was part of a group of five men who got out of a car and chased their victim down after an organised fight in Tommy Crooks Park in Darlington on August 20, 2020. The court heard that Waite filmed the man being punched after they group had finished chasing him, TeessideLive reports.
The unnamed traveller had agreed to settle a dispute with another man in a one-to-one fight, with the travelling community having agreed to providing a referee, as well as ruling that neither man had a weapon and headbutting was banned. However, Teesside Crown Court heart that the man, seen on the park's CCTV pacing up and down a public grassed area, was captured fleeing the scene after a black car with a partially hidden number plate turned up, with five men getting out and chasing their victim down.
Read more: Murder investigation launched after body of man, 24, found in Newcastle student flats
The attack was captured on CCTV, with the man seen being dragged into the car park and repeatedly punched in the head and the body. At one point, the victim got up, but was pushed back down to the floor, and he hit his head on the car park ground.
Prosecutor Robert Stevenson said that the victim suffered a ruptured spleen, three fractured ribs, a fractured cheekbone and cuts to his face. Mr Stevenson said that Waite's mobile phone footage was then sent to the victim's family and circulated within the local community.
A police officer identified Waite as one of five men chasing the victim through the park from the CCTV footage. Waite pleaded guilty to affray at an earlier hearing, with the court hearing that he had previous convictions for conspiring to damage property in 2015 and for the possession of a knife in a public in 2014.
He received suspended sentences for both crimes.
Nicholas De La Poer, defending, asked the court to consider a suspended sentence. He explained that Waite was late for court that morning because he was taking his daughter to school and he was aware he might not see her for some time.
Mr De La Poer also said that Waite has caring responsibilities for his grandparents and daughter. He added: "This was an ugly piece of public disorder in a wide open space - but it is not assault. The defendant took no part in the attack."
Judge Jonathan Carroll said that Waite was "involved in a mob who were after a member of the travelling community. You don't get to wash your hands of the violence used - you were the cameraman.
"This type of violence frightens and intimidates the general public. This was in a wide open space."
Read next
-
Gateshead woman pulled knife on shop customer who tried to stop her partner stealing
-
Fenham gunman fired shots towards young children playing in tree near his garden
-
Morpeth pervert with 'Jimmy Savile' email address had vile abuse images including torture and rape
-
North Shields rapist who struck hours after victim suffered miscarriage jailed for ten years
-
Disgusting Sunderland thug who spat in the faces of nurse and police officer jailed
