Stunned readers' blast at Wind Street brawl 'scum'
SHOCKING images of a group of young men brawling in the streets of Swansea have produced a massive reaction from you.
On Wednesday we published sickening CCTV footage of vicious late-night fighting on Wind Street which a judge slammed as "thuggish and loutish".
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The film has now been viewed more than 9,000 times, while scores of people leaving comments.
Six men pleaded guilty to using or threatening unlawful violence in an affray in connection with the incident — one of them is a serving soldier who has been praised for his exemplary service in Afghanistan.
Watch CCTV footage of the fight below.
The judge in the case, Lloyd Williams QC, told the dirty half-dozen: "You behaved in a thuggish and loutish manner and have brought considerable shame on yourselves and your families."
But some of you have used stronger language to describe the group.
One comment from a reader called "Welsh exile" in London, reads: "Disgraceful. What an advert for Swansea!
"It just proves how you can regenerate the city but can't get rid of the scum that go out to Wind Street on the weekend purely to look for a fight. And what a bunch of complete cowards. Idiots."
While Marcus, from Swansea, left a message reading: "I think it's an absolute disgrace. This city used to be such a grand place to live. I am very disappointed with the behaviour of the youths today. They need to be taught a lesson!"
However, Bethan, from Langland, described it as "just a normal evening's entertainment on Chav Street".
But some readers were less critical of the six men at the centre of the fighting.
Roger, from Sketty, wrote: "Hands up who's not had a bit of a scrap with one too many inside them — then you can cast the first stone. Boys will be boys after all."
Many readers also questioned the speed of the police response to the incident, which happened in the early hours of December 30 last year.
The fighting lasts for around four minutes before the first police unit arrives on the scene. But Detective Inspector Andy Hughes said the response needed to be seen in the context of the overall policing of the city.
"A report was taken about a disturbance from CCTV, and officers arrived as quickly as possible," he said.
"Seventeen other people were already in custody prior to the six that were arrested from this incident.
"In addition, officers were dealing with nine other incidents of public safety and anti-social behaviour across the city."
He added: "Three people were arrested at the scene, a further two were arrested within the hour, and a sixth a short time later.
"This incident goes to show how valuable CCTV can be in policing Wind Street. The message is this — if you are not caught at the time, you will be tracked down and brought to justice."
The six men sentenced for the affray are — Jamie Day, aged 19, of Penderry Road, Penlan; Stephen Byrne, aged 20, of Bryn Terrace, Landore; Philip Walters, aged 19, of Bohun Street, Manselton; Kevin Sims, aged 20, of Major Street, Manselton; Joshua Arnold, aged 20, of Hollett Road, Treboeth; and Sean Lloyd, aged 20, of Manselton.
Day, Byrne, Walters, Sims and Arnold were each made the subject of a 12-month custodial sentence, which was suspended for 12 months. Each must also carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work.
But, in Lloyd's case, the judge said he was prepared to take a "wholly exceptional" course and imposed a 12-month community order with an unpaid work requirement of 200 hours, because he didn't want to jeopardise Lloyd's Army career.
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said the Army took all such incidents involving military personnel seriously.
She added: "The Army is considering administrative action against this soldier."
138 Comments
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by Andrew, swansea
Monday, July 27 2009, 8:48PM
“Good to see the bouncers did absolutly nothing to stop this fight. What is the point of bounces if they dont stop trouble like this. They all know CCTV is on the strreet and if they use reasonable force nothing will haooen. Instead they stand there looking on. Discrace”
by John, Swansea
Friday, July 24 2009, 12:07PM
“I'm guessing this all started over a spilt pint, a girl or something like that. It's the normal drunken brawl. If idiots like this want to have a fight after a couple of pints why not have a boxing ring on Wind street, proper ref and leave them get on with it until they where each other out, then the police can step in and arrest them. Or have them go on live TV to explain themselves as to how the fight started in the first place, this should be done in front of a live audiance so they can laugh at how stupid the situation and reason for the fight is.
Dont you think it is about time stupid idiotic boys (sorry but you really cant call them men) really are, give them some alchohol and then the true side of these idiots becomes shown. Like an age limit on booze pubs should ask them if they can handle a pint before selling it to them, if you've been involved in any booze related incidents then the pub landlord shouldn't sell you any, they should be treated like the stupid idiotic children (sorry for insulting children) that they are.
The guy thats in the army should get booted out, he's lost a good job out of this, or if he really wants to fight send him to Iraq or Afganistan, we'll see how much a man he really is then.”
by Neil, Swansea
Thursday, July 16 2009, 12:11AM
“had this been in the USA someone would have been shot. Had it involved blacks or asians or other foreigners in teh UK someone would have been stabbed”
by sionnyn, Abertawe
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 6:07PM
“Call that a brawl? Handbags at dawn more like!
Carmarthen is far worse!”
by Mike, Swansea
Saturday, July 11 2009, 3:59PM
“Comment for Rebecca: In relation to statistics that you say you have studied the 2008 MORI Youth Survey found "no significant difference in terms of carrying a 'knife or 'gun' across ethnicity overall".In addition 11 MILLION/ You Gov found that young people from a black and minority ethnic background were more likely than their white counterparts to say that knife crime was a problem in their area, but the majority of current or former knife carriers were white. Although I believe the situation is very complex with no easy answers, simply blaming ethnic groups does nothing to combat such thuggish behavior as seen in this video and in the long run will most probably contribute to it.”
by rebecca, swansea
Friday, July 10 2009, 1:20PM
“just to amon ,, i said people of ethnic groups,, and my education comes from the fact i take alot of interest in immigration the way the goverment deals with it etc ,, just to inform you statistics show 6/10 rapes,, stabbings,, assaults are normally caused by people who have moved here from another country,, and seen as that is on the rise, that was the whole idea of my point get used to violence because in the future it will probably get worse..”
by anon, London
Thursday, July 09 2009, 3:15AM
“I am not surprised to see what happened there in swansea, its just the guys in wales think they are more masculine then rest of us..to me the root cause of this problem is drinking, we need to work together,educate families about the drinking consequences so they could bring up their childrens in a good and fair society. besides this hooliganism could have been the reason for me to leave swansea. and i would just like to comment on the comment made by rebecca that, it has nothing to do with the immigration, and not all ethnic group carry knives ..how many asians have you seen or heard stabbing peoples,i am white myself and what you wrote their earlier on is abosultely ridiculous. your comment speaks of you mind and your education.”
by Karl, Dunvant
Thursday, July 02 2009, 1:29PM
“The judge said he didnt want to jepodise the soldiers career,hence the lieniency. Common judge ,he is a bully boy soldier who, like proffesional boxers can kill with their bear hands. Why should they be treated differently? If they choose to go out and batter inocent people they must be dealt with harshly,It wouldnt come as a suprise if they lost their job as they would be fully aware of the consequences.If thes thugs hit hard, the courts must hit back harder !! No room in society for soft sentances or thugs.”
by Tony, Swansea
Thursday, July 02 2009, 12:07PM
“I was saddened to see this violent footage but I am all too familiar with it as I was formerly a door supervisor in Swansea. One of the reasons I left the role of doorman was because of the constant trouble and unthoughtful aggression towards the decent members of the public who were just trying to enjoy a good night out. These days a night in Swansea would more resemble a battle scene or primitive Neanderthal caveman behaviour. These mindless idiots need to remember that we live in a society where we should consider the welfare of those around us not just ourselves while going out and having a few drinks, do it safely.”
by rebecca, swansea
Wednesday, July 01 2009, 1:02PM
“its disgracefull what has happened ,, probably started over nothin more than drunk people bumping into each other and steroids kicking in!!! every one is so quick to say how bad it is but the reallity is if it was a coloured or ethnic group no one would say any thing because it would be so called " racist " ,, get used to violence because the more imigrants we get over here the more violence there is going to be and people of different ethnic groups tend to carry knives ,, think about that !!!!”