Six men have been convicted for their part in a fight between Birmingham gang members that erupted outside a city nightclub where one was performing.
Rapper Rikardo Reid – who goes under the name ‘Stardom’ – was at Levana in the city’s Arcadian center when rival gang members spotted him just after midnight on 2 August last year.
One of those opposing gang members, Theo White, hurled a bottle into the club which sparked violent clashes between the men.
Tyrell Meikle (33) ran from the venue and punched White, knocking him out cold, before Reid (32) and Fabian Williams (34) began kicking and stamping on him while the 33-year-old lay on the floor.
Ashai Gray (28) and Shayne Campbell traded punches with the three before 26-year-old Campbell pulled out a knife and tried stabbing Reid.
Gray also hurled chairs and barriers into the club sending customers running for cover.
All six gang members fled the scene but police identified and arrested them over the following days, weeks, and months.
Reid was arrested at Heathrow Airport on 20 September as he tried boarding a flight to Dubai.
Police charged all six men with the violent disorder but the Crown Prosecution Service proceeded with charges of affray which they all admitted in court.
Campbell also admitted making threats with a knife in public.
And at Birmingham Crown Court today (9 June) Campbell, Williams, and Gray were jailed for 30, 18, and 15 months respectively.
White, Meikle, and Reid were all given suspended prison sentences.
Sergeant Alex Rowbottom from our Birmingham Organised Crime & Gangs Unit, said: “This case centers around violence between two organized crime gangs.
“Both gangs threw chairs and bottles across the club which was full of customers at the time; it’s fortunate no innocent members of the public weren’t seriously hurt.
“Reid was particularly lucky as Campbell slipped when he lunged at him with the knife; had he not lost his footing it’s likely he would have been stabbed.
“This kind of violence is totally unacceptable and even more so in a public place surrounded by people trying to enjoy a night out. Our gang’s officers have worked with detectives to secure these convictions.”
The Birmingham Organised Crime & Gangs Unit works around the clock to target people linked to gangs.
Sgt Roobottom added: “We run regular operations targeting suspected gang members, including suppression patrols and activity to disrupt their behavior, and will always act on intelligence to make arrests and protect the public.
“Anyone who associates themselves with a gang can expect to be seriously hurt or killed, or spend much of their time locked away in prison.
“Together with our partners we can help people break away from gangs and support families where there are concerns children are at risk of being groomed or exploited into gang affiliation.”