Teenagers sentenced for mass fight at young offender unit
A GANG of inmates attacked prison staff and armed themselves with heavy pieces of gym equipment during a stand-off at a young offender institution.
The group of five teenagers turned on staff during a gym session at HM Prison and Young Offender Institute Parc in Bridgend on May 9 last year.
Felix Marshall-Williams, 18, Antonio Mitchell, 18, Keiran Gleaves, 18, Kane Daley, 18, and Lennox Barnes, 17, were all serving time at the facility for other crimes.
One prison officer sustained head wounds after being attacked, and had to take time off work.
Prosecutor Claire Wilks told a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court last Friday the incident occurred when inmates became unhappy with the presence of a prison officer during a gym session.
“Mitchell Brown is the prison gym instructor,” Ms Wilks said. “Prison officer [Daniel] Gurmin was there to supervise the detainees. All of the defendants, it seems, were unhappy with Mr Gurmin’s presence and periodically asked him why he needed to be there.”
Ms Wilks said Felix MarshallWilliams approached Mr Gurmin on more than one occasion, and was warned by both the prison officer and the gym instructor. She said after repeatedly asking Mr Gurmin why he was there, he crossed the room and spat in his face twice.
The prison officer pressed his alarm and tried to take control of MarshallWilliams but was pushed against the wall and punched in the face.
Mr Gurmin felt a blow to his left eye and tried to protect himself as he felt further punches land, Ms Wilks said.
“At that stage other defendants became involved in the assault upon Mr Gurmin,” Ms Wilks said.
When Mitchell Brown, the gym instructor, attempted to intervene he was assaulted by Antonio Mitchell, Ms Wilks said. Ms Wilks said MarshallWilliams then picked up a metal weighted bar and threatened to use it to assault both the prison officer and the gym instructor. Other prison staff then answered Mr Gurmin’s alarm but the door to the gym had been barricaded by the inmates.
“Staff were able to overbear them and gain entry to the gym and Mr Gurmin was able to leave,” Ms Wilks said. “He described himself as tearful and upset. He was bleeding from his face.”
Gleaves, who was seen at the doorway, was told to return to the wing by one of the officers which he complied with, ending his involvement.
Ms Wilks said the remaining four all armed themselves with pieces of gym equipment.
Barnes picked up a five kilo weight plate, Mitchell was armed with a metal weight bar, Daley first picked up a bar and then changed it to a weighted rope, and Marshall-Williams was holding a barbell.
Ms Wilks said Barnes was “angry and shouting” at the prison officers, who eventually managed to restrain him and remove him from the room.
While that was happening, the three remaining inmates stood in a line near the back of the gym.
Ms Wilks said the situation was finally brought under control when a second team entered the gym from a door at the back of the gym.
Felix Marshall-Williams, of HMP Cardiff, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was given an 18-month custodial sentence in a youth offender institution for the first offence, and four months for the second to run concurrently.
Antonio Mitchell, of HMP Cardiff, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and an assault on an emergency worker. He was sentenced to 15 months in a young offender institution for the first offence, and four months for the second to run concurrently.
Keiran Gleaves, of HMP Cardiff, admitted one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was given six months in a young offender institution to run concurrently with the sentence he is currently serving.
Kane Daley, of Easterton Croft, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder and two of assault on an emergency worker. He was given 15 months in a young offender institution, suspended for 12 months.
Lennox Barnes, of Tremains Business Park, Bridgend, admitted violent disorder and one count of assault on an emergency worker. He was made the subject of a youth rehabilitation order and a supervision order for 24 months. He must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work.