Three jailed for part in night of ‘fear’ on streets
THREE men have been jailed for their roles in disorder last Halloween that saw fireworks thrown at members of the public and a police van.
Avtar Hussain, Sharoze Ali and Umar Pervez each denied affray but pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.
Sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke noted the degree of “fear” generated as events unfolded that night.
The court heard the incident occurred on the evening of October 31 last year in the Pill area of Newport.
David Purnell, prosecuting, said: “Tensions were rising in that community throughout the day.”
He said there had also been “issues” in the area in the days leading up to Halloween.
Prosecutors said families were out trick-or-treating when some young people started setting off fireworks in a public place.
Mr Purnell described their behaviour as “dangerous” and “reckless”.
The court heard police were called to the scene just before 6pm and spoke to a group of youths around Potter Street.
Police received another call about an hour later to nearby New Street, reporting fireworks being thrown.
Mr Purnell said: “Fireworks were being let off in the direction of members of the public.”
The prosecutor said there was no evidence the defendants were directly involved in those earlier incidents.
He said at 10.15pm a police van was travelling along Commercial Street when a firework was thrown.
Mr Purnell added: “Another firework was thrown in the direction of the police vehicle and exploded against the side of the van.”
The court heard six officers got out and aggravated vehicle taking.
Steven Donoghue, defending, stressed his client’s young age.
In her sentencing remarks, the judge said: “Throughout that day there were rising tensions within that community.”
She noted the “genuine fear” felt by members of the public in the street.
The judge explained she had to look at their offending in the context of events that unfolded that evening.
She said: “Those who saw this behaviour would have been in fear of a high level of unlawful violence.”