dpTwo teenagers assaulted two neighbours after one of them egged one of the victims’ homes. Ajay Butler was 17 when he hurled eggs at a man’s windows in Glencoe Street, Longton, in 2023.
The homeowner went to remonstrate with Butler’s mum at 8am and the defendant denied being responsible. At 9.20am he walked past the man’s house and the victim asked the teenager to clean up the mess – only for Butler to verbally abuse him and tell him to clean it up himself.
Butler was later joined by teenager Kyle Clarke.
Prosecutor Alison Whalley said: “The man saw Butler and heard a bottle smash. He jumped into an alley and saw the defendant. There was a verbal altercation. Butler squared up to him. Clarke, then aged 15, egged him on. Butler punched the man. He was punched by both defendants. The man put his hand on his chest to protect himself. He was scared.”
The victim went to his in-laws’ house on the same estate. His father-in-law, in his 70s, went to the alleyway.
Miss Whalley added: “He asked if they’d had a go at the victim. They said, ‘What are you going to do about it’? They bumped into him. Clarke struck the man to the back of his head. He fell to the floor. While on his knees Butler kicked him to the face.”
The first victim had a cut ear and head and a lump on his head. The second victim had a cut forehead, a grazed nose, a nosebleed, a painful jaw, a bruise under his right eye, and a broken cheekbone. He was referred for facial surgery.
In an impact statement the first victim said: “I am very annoyed that the defendants found it acceptable to attack a man in his 70s and show no remorse.”
The court heard Butler was also one of three men who burgled a house in Meaford Drive, Blurton, at 1.15am on July 28 this year. The intruders entered through an open front window wearing balaclavas and stole property worth £864.50 when the victim was at home. They tried to use a bank card.
Butler, of Crick Road, Joiners Square, and Clarke, now aged 18, of Kimberley Street, Longton, were found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Butler pleaded guilty to burglary.
Here’s what Butler’s barrister had to say:
Anis Ali, mitigating for 20-year-old Butler, said his client is embarrassed and ashamed.
Mr Ali said: “He was a lot younger then, 17. What he did, throwing eggs at the property, was a joke that got out of hand. He is still a young man and perhaps does not have the level of maturity that one would expect. He is displaying signs of maturing.
“He pleaded guilty to the burglary. The others involved had perhaps involved him through coercion. He has not really benefited to any extent, either financially or from items taken. He has vowed to disassociate himself from those who have had an influence on him. His mental health remains an issue. He could do with support or intervention.”
Here’s what Clarke’s barrister had to say:
Paul Cliff, representing Clarke, said the teenager acted out of character.
Mr Cliff said: “The assault was not premeditated. He did not have any ill will to the victims and has borne no ill will since. There is no suggestion of any repetition or further problems in the last three years or so.
“At the time he was a child. He is still a very young man now. There was an element of bravado. There must be a genuine prospect of rehabilitation because the defendant has demonstrated that he is capable of behaving himself. He has stayed out of trouble for three years.”
Judge Graeme Smith sentenced Butler to 34 months detention. Clarke was sentenced to 12 months detention, suspended for 12 months, with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 60 hours unpaid work.
The Judge’s verdict:
Judge Smith told Butler: “On June 8, 2023, what has been suggested started as a joke ended up with a serious assault committed by you and Clarke. You were the person who started that, not only in terms of egging the property but also abusing the first victim and starting the violence.
“The second incident, the burglary, involved three of you entering at night through an open window. You were wearing balaclavas. You took goods including items of sentimental value and tried to use the bank card. The victim indicated her shock and alarm. She was asleep and alone in the property.”
Judge Smith told Clarke: “You simply found yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. As Butler had a leading role you effectively just went along with what was happening. It caused a serious injury to two people who were effectively neighbours.”
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