Machete youth detained after Star City mob riot
Teen tried to attack rival group amid shocking violence
A14-YEAR-OLD boy armed himself with a machete for a pre-planned orgy of violence with up to 50 youths at a cinema. Shocked film-goers looked on as the two rival gangs clashed at Birmingham’s Star City complex in Nehcells.
The teenager, who cannot be identified due to his age, appeared to be the leader of one of the two gangs who had gathered intent on fighting last November, Birmingham Crown Court was told.
He tried to hit other teenagers with his machete and at one point used the shoulder of a security guard to elevate himself before bringing the machete down towards the other group.
The violence took place over the course of an hour on November 23 and involved two groups of around 50 males aged between 12 and 16. The court heard it had stemmed the film Blue Story, which depicted gang warfare and was being screened at the time.
Vue Cinema was among several cinema chains which later withdrew the film following the violence at Star City.
The teenager, now aged 15, was sentenced to 18 months’ detention and training after admitting attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing a bladed article.
The court heard the first incident happened outside a chicken shop on the ground floor of Star City at around 4.30pm when there was a verbal exchange between the groups.
At that point the teenage defendant was seen pulling a machete from the right hand side of his trousers.
Mr Thomas Griffiths, prosecuting, said a picture later circulated on social media showed him holding the weapon.
A fight began which was broken up by security guards.
There was then a period when the two groups followed each other around on escalators “stalking” and “antagonising” one another.
An hour later the defendant’s group were on the top floor but were later escorted down by security.
They were followed by the other group and another altercation broke out outside the same shop.
The leader of the other gang was seen “lunging forward and throwing a number of punches”.
The defendant then used the shoulder of a security guard to raise up before bringing the machete down towards the other group. He was then disarmed.
In passing sentence, Judge Avik Mukherjee said the offences happened against a background of public disorder in some cities in the UK following the release of Blue Story.
He said “It is aggravated by the location and the time. Star City was shut and Vue had banned this film but you and others decided to use this time to congregate and cause disorder.
“It is not clear what the dispute concerned but it is reasonable to conclude that you expected that it could turn violent and hence you armed yourself.
“This incident could have become much more unwieldy and out of control but for the security.
“In that other group you could have struck a number of people. You missed your intended target but only because he moved out of the way. That was pure luck rather than anything else.
“By swinging that machete in the way you did others could have been seriously if not fatally injured as a result of your actions.
“This was reckless and dangerous and caused fear and distress to others present.
“I have seen the stills and there were a number of children younger than you with adults.”
Defending, James Doyle, said the teen had a number of behavioural difficulties which would only become more entrenched if he was sent to detention. He said at the time he was suffering from ADHD and probably autism.