Village brawl was ‘like a western’

A teenager was stabbed and another hit with a baseball bat as two gangs clashed in a village in scenes which were “like something out of a western”, a court heard. Up to 20 youths, some armed, arrived in Staplehurst High Street on a Friday evening in February on a bus from Maidstone. Three of those, all aged 16 and from Maidstone, admitted affray at the town’s magistrates’ court on Wednesday.

The court heard the group had travelled to the village as part of an continuing feud between one of their number and another teenager, who was stabbed in the arm during the brawl.

James Nichols, prosecuting, explained issues came to a head after one of the victims made a prank call to one of the defendants. They then arranged the fight over instant messaging service WhatsApp.

Jag Takk, defending, said: “Since the beginning of the year one defendant has had a feud with the complainant.

“Offensive and unpleasant comments have been made on social media. Groups of friends attended on this evening to watch the fight between the pair but matters obviously got out of hand. Somewhere in the region of 20 individuals were involved but these three are the only ones who have been charged. Even though my clients accept their involvement they were not part of the stabbing.”

As the violence erupted one victim was pushed to the floor and knifed in the melee, another boy was chased and hit with a baseball bat, while a third was knocked to the floor and punched and kicked. Mary Winder, chairman of the bench, compared the events to a western, saying: “How do you think your mothers would have reacted if they’d seen this? Onlookers must have been terrified.”

The trio, all of whom are planning to go to college in September and cannot be named for legal reasons, were given 12-month youth referral orders.