Gang had machetes and baseball for revenge attack at pub
FOUR men have been jailed after they burst into a pub armed with machetes, a metal pole and a baseball bat looking for revenge.
The gang stormed into the back of the Lord Nelson pub in Earl Shilton after earlier being involved in a fight with 10 people in the beer garden.
Shay McManus, 31, of Grey Crescent, Newtown Linford; Kody Finnemore, 32, of Montvale Gardens, off Anstey Lane, Leicester; Richard Henderson, 31, of Pendlebury Drive, Knighton; and Deacon Smith, 25, of Evelyn Road, Braunstone, all appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Tuesday where they admitted their part in the incident on July 11.
They all pleaded guilty to one count of possession of an offensive weapon, one count of affray and two counts of wounding with intent. McManus also pleaded guilty to burglary relating to the same incident. The court heard at about 5.30pm McManus, Finnemore and Henderson were in the beer garden of the Wood Street pub when they became involved in an argument with two men. This argument led to a fight involving about 10 people.
Police were called but the three defendants left before officers arrived.
They later returned at about 7pm with Smith, armed with machetes, a metal pole and a baseball bat. They ran into the pub from the rear entrance. A customer sustained injuries to his hand in an attempt to challenge Henderson while a second person trying to help sustained an injury to his hand and back. Neither men were seriously hurt.
While the customer was being kicked, McManus swung his knife to attack him but accidentally hit Henderson in the leg, cutting him severely. Realising the serious injury, the men fled with McManus but not before grabbing two bottles of alcohol from behind the bar. Knowing the injured man would have needed hospital treatment, police traced the group to Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Finnemore, McManus and Smith were arrested while Henderson was arrested at a later date after he had received emergency surgery.
Pc Neil Walker said the two men assaulted were lucky to have not been more seriously injured. “The customer made the brave decision to challenge an armed man while the other man attempted to assist him,” he said. “What they did prevented anyone else in the pub from being assaulted.
“This was a serious attack and was clearly pre-planned by the group who went back to the pub intent on revenge, intent on causing serious harm and ironically left with one of them seriously wounded.
“Unfortunately for them, we knew Henderson would have no choice but to attend hospital and officers located them all there together some 30 minutes after the incident. Further investigation led officers to recover the car they had travelled in with weapons still inside.
“The case demonstrates the dangers that carrying a knife poses even when used in these circumstances.”
McManus was jailed for five years and four months, Henderson for five years and two months, Smith for four years and eight months and Finnemore for four years and six months.