Teens guilty of perverting justice in case of man’s death

THREE teenagers have been sent to a young offender institution for interfering with evidence as police investigated the death of a man on a Newport street.

Callum Banton, Shaquille Crosdale and Brandon Crosdale were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court for perverting the course of public justice in relation to the death of 41-year-old Jan Jedrzejewski.

They were cleared of manslaughter but convicted of perverting the course of justice after hiding mobile phones and washing clothes after the incident on Keene Street, Newport, at around 11pm on Thursday, January 12.

Richard Wallis, 43, from Keene Street, was jailed in September for life with a minimum term of 16 years after being found guilty of murder.

Banton and Brandon Crosdale, both 18, from Fleetwood Close, admitted perverting the course of public justice.

Shaquille Crosdale, 19, of the same address, was found guilty of the same charge by a jury.

Prosecutors said the three teenagers washed and changed their clothes, as well as hiding mobile phones, in an attempt to avoid being linked to the incident.

Banton was sentenced to 16 months in a young offender institution and Brandon Crosdale was sentenced to 14 months. Shaquille Crosdale was handed a 20-month sentence.

A fourth defendant, Ellis Seivwright, 18, from Glebe Street, was sentenced to 12 months’ detention after he admitted perverting the course of justice.

Judge Eleri Rees said the defendants should work to create a more positive future for themselves. She said: “When it comes to the offence of perverting the course of justice, the higher courts make it clear an element of deterrence has to be included.”