Teen avoids jail as knuckleduster brawl spills into street and leaves woman terrified
CONFRONTATION OVER ‘FIGHTING’ KIDS
A TEEN who teamed up with his cousin to carry out a terrifying street attack has been spared jail.
Jae Corlass, 19, of Oriel Grove in Hull, and his older cousin Michael Sharp, 35, of Triton Road, drove to a house in Mappleton Grove, east Hull, on January 8 to confront a member of their family over a “fight” between two children.
Corlass was seen by a witness holding a knuckleduster and shouting at a door.
Prosecutor Stephen Grattage told Hull Crown Court on Friday that Corlass was arrested the next day, and when asked about the knuckledusters, showed them to police officers.
Despite being paid a visit by Humberside Police, Corlass was not deterred and he and Sharp both returned to Mappleton Grove just days later on January 11.
Mr Grattage said Sharp’s brother had been out for a drink and he and his partner were downstairs at the time Sharp and Corlass arrived at their door.
The prosecutor said: “There was a loud banging on the door. Next door, there was a family watching TV and they heard the same on their door.
“They opened the door and saw Jae Corlass was there, with Michael Sharp banging on the door next door and shouting, ‘drag him out of there’.
“They [the family] closed door and called the police.
“Jae Corlass was making threats. Sharp’s brother opened the door and fought with them. He was injured as he was punched and stamped on.
“His partner tried to intervene, but was thrown to the ground and
His partner tried to intervene, but was thrown to the ground and both men kicked her. She ran to the back of the house and called the police. She was terrified Stephen Grattage, prosecuting
the
both men kicked her. She ran to the back of the house and called the police. The 999 call shows she was clearly terrified.”
In a victim personal statement read out to the court, the woman said: “Since the incident I have been a nervous wreck. I’ve not been sleeping.
“It’s all I think about and I’ve been having nightmares and flashbacks. The violence brought back a lot of bad memories for me.
“Every night I wedge a plank of wood against the front door in case they come back. The street where it happened terrifies me. I just want to find my own place now and move away.”
Mr Grattage said Corlass tried to throw something through the window of the house, and a neighbour also had his car damaged due to the brawl.
The pair fled and Sharp arrested just hours later, Corlass the next day.
David Godfrey, mitigating for Corlass, said he was 18 at the time of the incident and now realises he needs to grow up.
He said: “He left school found things difficult, but looking for work.
“His mum tells me he was was and and was
a good lad and when he turned 17 he started drinking and, as is often the case with young men, started to portray himself in a way that wasn’t him, trying to be a big man and got himself into a serious state of affairs. He needs to reflect on his behaviour.
“He knows that getting drunk and behaving in this way will cause pain to those around him.”
Steven Garth, mitigating for Sharp, told the court he is a hard worker and a dad-of-five who is also a doting stepfather.
He said: “He now leads a law-abiding life. He grew up in his thirties and became a responsible person. This [the incident] was feuding that didn’t involve him, but he foolishly and stupidly got himself involved.
“The defendant accepts that this was committed by him while he was in drink and it was disgraceful and outrageous and inappropriate behaviour.
“There is no doubt whatsoever that he feels regret and shame to the very core.”
Both Corlass and Sharp were spared an immediate prison sentence by Recorder Hassall, who handed them sentences suspended for 18 months.