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29 Jul 2010 11:30
MEN JAILED AFTER VIOLENT TRAM STOP FIGHT - BLACKHORSE LANE, CROYDON
Two men who fought at a Croydon tram stop using a skateboard and a broken glass bottle as weapons were jailed today, Thursday 29 July, following an investigation by British Transport Police (BTP) detectives.
Andrew Brown (27) of Bennets Way, Croydon, and Blair Osbourne (24) of Sylvan Hill, Upper Norwood, were sentenced after appearing at Croydon Crown Court.
Brown, who was found guilty of affray and possession of an offensive weapon, was jailed for two years.
Osbourne, who pleaded guilty to affray at an earlier hearing, was sentenced to 10 months' prison.
The court heard that BTP and Metropolitan Police officers were called to Blackhorse Lane tram stop in Croydon around 4.30pm on Thursday, 17 September after a report of a disturbance between a group of men.
Five men were arrested in connection with the incident, including Brown and Osbourne - who had a cut near to his left eye and a gash near to one of his hips following the brawl.
Detective Constable Mark Agrippa, based at Croydon BTP station on Addiscombe Road, said that members of the public and onlookers were shocked by what they saw.
“The sight of the men fighting and the scale of the violence, all in broad daylight was truly shocking for onlookers,” he said.
“Witnesses told us they were extremely frightened by what they saw unfolding before their eyes and feared that someone would be seriously hurt.”
Osbourne and two friends were travelling on a tram from East Croydon, as was Brown, who was accompanied by another man.
Heated words were exchanged between Brown and Osbourne during the journey and the pair both left the tram at Blackhorse Lane, the next stop.
After pushing and shoving between the pair, Osbourne grabbed a skateboard from a young passenger and began hitting Brown with it.
The pair then started brawling in front of horrified members of the public, who called police for assistance.
Brown then smashed a glass bottle before using it to stab Osbourne in the hip area several times.
Officers arrived shortly after and Brown, along with another man, was arrested.
Osbourne, along with two other men, had boarded a tram and left the scene, but was stopped and arrested by officers at Arena tram stop immediately after. He was taken to the Mayday Hospital in Thornton Heath to be treated for cuts to his head and near to one of his hips, which required stitches.
DC Agrippa added: “While no CCTV footage of the incident taking place was available, we were able to piece together the sequence of events and determine who was involved using statements and detailed testimonies from the numerous members of the public who witnessed the fight.
“They were prepared to equip themselves with weapons and use them on each other to settle a trivial dispute.
“We hope the prison sentences handed down today will give them this pair the opportunity to properly reflect on the seriousness of what they did.”
Notes to Editors:
Two other men arrested and charged in connection with the incident received the following verdicts:
- Wilbert Brown (29), of Croydon, was found not guilty of affray.
- Christopher McKenna (21) of Thornton Heath, was found not guilty of affray and possession of an offensive weapon.
No further action was taken against a 21-year-old man, who was also arrested in connection with the incident.
Please find attached images of Andrew Brown and Blair Osbourne. JPEG versions are available upon request if you are unable to download the attached images.
BTP retains copyright of the attached images and will not permit them to be distributed, reproduced, or published in any form of media, electronic or otherwise, except in relation to the sentencing of Andrew BROWN and Blair OSBOURNE. Under no circumstances will the police accept liability if the attached photographs are distributed, reproduced, or published in any form of media, electronic or otherwise, other than for the above purposes. Permission to reproduce these images is only given for 1 month from today.
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British Transport Police is the specialist, national police service for Britain’s railways. BTP deals with major and minor crime, disorder and incidents, and covers the rail system in England, Wales and Scotland, including London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, the Glasgow Subway and the Midland Metro and Croydon Tramlink systems. Its 2,914 police officers, 322 Police Community Support Officers, 190 Special Constables and 1,316 support staff are recruited and trained like those of local forces and have the same powers. Find out more at www.btp.police.uk
The London South Area of British Transport Police covers the National Rail system in south London and the southern Home Counties, as well as the Croydon Tramlink. It employs 401 police officers, 53 Police Community Support Officers, 47 Special Constables and 79 support staff.