MEMBERS of a gang who left three people in hospital after a violent rampage on a Basingstoke estate have been locked up.
Emma Davis, 21, Jason Arnold, 18, and a juvenile - who cannot be named for legal reasons - were among a group of youths who caused mayhem over two days in February.
The gang, who were not all involved in every incident: - Tried to smash their way into the home of a young couple - Attacked a man as he walked home from the pub, leaving him with head injuries - Jumped on another man as he left a local shop, punching and kicking him - Smashed a glass bottle over the head of a third man as he walked down the street, after punching and kicking him - Rained blows on dad Kevin Pearson outside his home.
Detective Constable Tim Ireson, who has been praised by a crown court judge for bringing Davis, Arnold and other members of the gang to justice, said: "It was two days of mayhem and violence, at least partly fuelled by alcohol."
The crime spree started on the afternoon of Friday, February 1, when the gang threw a knife at a house in Campsie Close. They then verbally abused the owner when she refused to give it back.
Then, at about 9pm, a young couple were entertaining friends in Charnwood Close when three members of the gang, who had been drinking, tried to kick in the front door. One of them threw a glass through the window.
At about 11.30pm, the gang set upon Gary Gordon, 28, from Buckskin, in Worting Road, as he walked home from a nearby pub. The gang chased him down the road and into Mourne Close, where he was knocked to the floor and assaulted.
"Some of Mr Gordon's neighbours came out to find out what was going on. There were a number of verbal exchanges before they were set upon," said Det Con Ireson.
Mr Gordon was treated for head injuries at Basingstoke hospital. One witness to the attack feared Mr Gordon was going to die.
The rampage continued on the following Wednesday. Some members of the gang were drinking outside the Co-Op in Buckskin at about 4pm when they attacked Richard Burford, 27, of Buckskin.
"One of them was heard to say 'Let's give him a couple of punches when he comes out'," said Det Con Ireson.
"Mr Burford was held by two youths as he tried to escape back into the Co-Op but they followed him in and started kicking and punching him."
Later that night, at 7.30pm, Richard Blay, 25, from Sherborne St John, was also attacked while walking to the shops in Buckskin.
He was confronted by Davis, who said that he had pushed her and that she was pregnant.
The gang members then chased him into Buckskin Road, where he was knocked to the ground and kicked and punched.
"A glass bottle was smashed over his head, causing deep lacerations to his scalp and ear," said Det Con Ireson.
"He ran to a taxi, which had to swerve to avoid him, and the assault continued inside the taxi. At least four people ran towards him and got in the passenger doors.
"Mr Blay was punched and kicked inside the taxi until the driver managed to drive off and get him to the hospital."
He received stitches and was released the same evening.
The group's fourth victim was Kevin Pearson, who had served in Northern Ireland with the British Army.
He had just picked up his son from cadets when he was attacked outside his home in Campsie Close, between 9.30pm and 10pm.
After the attack, which left Mr Pearson needing hospital treatment, police found a baseball bat, a table leg, a snooker cue and a bottle at the scene.
At Winchester Crown Court, Arnold, of Berwyn Close, Buckskin, was sentenced on two separate counts of violent disorder to nine months in a Young Offenders' Institute, in relation to two cases of violent disorder involving the attacks on Mr Blay and Mr Gordon. He was given six months for one count of common assault on Mr Burford. All the sentences will run concurrently.
He was cleared on one count of violent disorder in relation to the attack on Mr Pearson.
Arnold, who has been in custody since February, will be released in November.
Davis, of Campsie Close, has been sentenced to two years on separate counts of violent disorder for incidents involving Mr Pearson and Mr Blay, as well as affray involving Mr Gordon's neighbours.
Three other youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have also been sentenced to 24 month supervision orders for violent disorder during the assault on Mr Gordon.
For his part in the attacks on Mr Gordon, Mr Blay and Mr Pearson and another youth, who also cannot be named, received three eight-month sentences to run concurrently.
He also received six months each for common assault, to run concurrently, on Mr Burford and Mr Gordon's neighbours.
For the attack on Mr Blay, another youth, whose identity again cannot be revealed, pleaded guilty to violent disorder in relation to the attack on Mr Pearson. He was due to be sentenced today.
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