A gang of violent thugs who threw rocks, bottles and beer cans at police officers as they tried to arrest one of their gang are facing lengthy prison sentences.
Craig Bradley was described as the ringleader as he encouraged his friends to attack the officers to prevent him from being arrested after he became abusive.
Macauley Owen, Josh Blackston, Martin Rivers, Samuel Lane, and an unidentified male, launched a barrage of missiles or taunted the officers after they attended the report of a fire in the middle of a road.
The shocking CCTV footage shows one of the officers repeatedly trying to force the gang to move away from the area while his baton was fully extended while objects are being thrown at his head and body.
Teesside Crown Court heard how some of the gang armed themselves with a variety of missiles before launching them at the officer’s head from just metres away.
Paul Rooney, prosecuting, said the officer suffered potentially career-ending injuries after he was bombarded with missiles over a prolonged period while trying to protect his junior colleague.
He said: “As he (Bradley) was being handcuffed he started to shout ‘get them f***** of me, there are four of you f****** do them’.
“He continued to struggle and continued to tell them to get them and this was the catalyst for what was to come.”
Mr Rooney said Owen and Blackston were the ones responsible for most of the missiles being thrown while Rivers and Lane were on hand to encourage the violent disorder.
He said: “The scale of the unjustified and unnecessary, gratuitous violence on police officers together with the very serious disorder which followed was caught on the CCTV.”
A police car was also damaged during the violent disorder in Hemlington in the early hours of November 26 last year while a car was also set alight but not by any of those arrested, the court heard.
Mr Rooney said: “They intended to cause really serious harm to the officer. The actions of the defendants caught on CCTV can quite properly be used to draw inference that they intended to cause really serious injury.
“The throwing of bricks and bottles, at such close range and significant force, cannot be referred to as anything other than trying to cause serious harm."
The judge heard how the officer suffered injuries to his hand, including nerve and tendon damage, and cuts and bruises as a result of the prolonged attack on him.
Bradley, of Fonteyn Court, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to resist arrest and violent disorder.
Blackston, also of Fonteyn Court, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and violent disorder. He failed to attend court and he will be sentenced in his absence after an arrest warrant was issued for the 23-year-old.
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Owen, 26, from Alwinton Court, Ormesby, also pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and violent disorder.
Rivers, 33, of no fixed address but formerly of Alstread Court, Hemlington, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Lane, 20, of Eddison Way, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and breach of a criminal behaviour order.
The sentencing hearing will conclude tomorrow morning (Thursday, October 3).
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