http://www.ligali.org/article.php?id=666
Eleven members of a violent and racist gang have been sentenced a total of almost 29 years in prison for an unprovoked and premeditated attack on an Angolan family living in their neighbourhood.
Maura Adriano, Alvero Vintem and their three children came to the UK in 2000 and had been on the receiving end of abuse and violence since their arrival on the Seacroft estate in Leeds. Just four days after the family moved into the estate, they were subjected to a horrific 30 minute attack as they held a barbeque to celebrate the 10th birthday of their cousin.
The gang, which included two teenagers, had previously broken the family’s door, smashed their windows and stolen their television. While Mrs Adriano and her family were enjoying their barbeque the gang, who were armed with baseball bats and crowbars and were said to have stockpiled weapons in a neighbouring house, proceeded to throw bottles, sticks, cans and bricks at the family and their guests, including eight children, as they fearfully cowered for shelter in their garden. According to one witness, the thugs got hold of the barbecue and threw it at a window in an attempt to set fire to the house where the children had managed to take refuge.
The judge and jury sat in silence as video footage of the attack was played in court. The racist gang also attacked the family’s car and shrieked anti-African abuse at them, ordering them to “Get home you bunch of f***ing n*****s� and “Back off you black b*stards, you don’t belong here�.
During the hearing at Leeds crown court, prosecutor John Toppam told the court “The Angolan family were terrified… children and women were terrified and crying. Some of the white residents on the estate were hostile to the presence of a black family. There were discussions in a café in the locality with the idea of forcing the family to move�.
“Seething aggression�
Eleven members of the gang pleaded guilty to violent disorder and attempted to deny any racist intent but the judge dismissed their claim and insisted that the hatred of African people was the only motivation for their criminal and savage behaviour. Judge Peter Hunt went on to say; “What’s depressingly striking is the seething aggression demonstrated by so many.�
David Holdsworth, 34, was described as displaying “extreme violence� and was jailed for three years and seven months. Leanne Montgomery, Darren Kaye and Jonathan Wilson, all 19 years old, were sentenced to three years, 21 months and two and half years respectively to be served in a young offender’s institution.
Andrew Boylan, 25, and Liam Bellwood, 20, were both jailed for three and a half years. Wayne Purchase, 31, Patrick Burns, 34, Wayne Lorimer, 21, and Duane Watts all received terms of two and a half years. Glynn Milburn, 33, was jailed for 12 months. Seven members of the gang have yet to be traced.
On hearing the verdicts, Alvaro Vintem said that the gang had “got what they deserved�. He and his family have now moved to another part of Leeds.
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