Seven people jailed for their part in organised fight that included knives and guns in Westminster

Six men and a teenager who took part in an organised fight armed with at least seven knives and a gun in Westminster have been jailed for a combined total of nearly 18 years.

On January 2, 2019, at around 7pm police were called to reports of a large fight involving 20 people armed with weapons in the area of Great Western Road and Harrow Road, in Westbourne Park.

By the time the police arrived all the suspects had run away but a 17-year-old boy had taken himself to hospital shortly after the fight with a large slash wound to his face and another man was treated near the scene of the fight with a stab wound to the chest.

Both were arrested shortly after receiving treatment and from there the police tracked the other people involved using CCTV from different venues around the scene of the incident.

Jordan Bedeau, 18, of Colville Square, Kensington and Chelsea, was sentenced to three years, Rhys Herbert, 19, of Lonsdale Road, Kensington and Chelsea, was sentenced to two years and six months and a 17-year-old boy from Hammersmith and Fulham was sentenced to a 10 month detention and training order when they all pleaded guilty for violent disorder.

CCTV helped detectives identify a grey vehicle that arrived at the scene just after 7pm – 10 minutes before the fight – with the 17-year-old and Bedeau inside. This vehicle was followed shortly after by another red car carrying Herbert.

The police searched Bedeau’s address and carried out a warrant where they found clothing matching the suspects identified in the CCTV of the fight.

Phone examinations also placed the suspects at the scene of the fight on January 2.

Damani Salmon-Charles, 24, of Foscote Mews, Westminster, was the man found with the stab wound to the chest and denied the offences of violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon but pleaded guilty part-way through the trial and was jailed for three years and two months.

Osamah Elbadawi, 19, of Nutbourne Street, Westminster, was jailed for two years and 11 months after denied the offences of violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon but was found guilty.

Youssef Eldrissi, 28, of Ilbert Street, Westminster, was jailed two years and 11 months and Brandon Wyse, 21, of Bensham Lane, Croydon, was jailed for two years and six months after they both pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Meckeal Pond, 29, of Bravington Road, Westminster, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at an earlier hearing and will be sentenced at a later date.

Detective constable Russell Bryan said: “These men, running around armed with knives and other weapons, had absolutely no regards for the massive surge of fear and panic that witnesses and members of the public were feeling due to their selfish actions.

“Although two of those sentenced suffered injuries, it’s sheer luck that no one was killed in this dispute.”

DC Bryan added: “Violence of this nature has absolutely no place on the streets of London. Officers will continue to work around the clock to disrupt criminal behaviour and arrest those who think they can get away with acts of violence.”