Terrifying moment masked teens wave foot-long machetes in broad daylight brawl – as thug pair jailed
THIS is the terrifying moment masked teens waved foot-long machetes in a broad daylight brawl – before being jailed.
The video clip shows Jordan Bazuna, 19, and Jack Bolton, 18 – part of two large groups – wielding the huge blades in Nottingham city centre in a stand-off.
Shocked passers-by dashed into the Nottingham Contemporary gallery during the incident at around 12.30pm on January 31.
A brave member of the public stepped in and diffused the situation, with the thugs fleeing down some steps.
The prosecutor said in court: “They were making slashing motions with the machetes which were a foot in length.
“(One witness) said he was walking up the steps and had to seek refuge inside the Contemporary where staff locked the door to prevent any of the group from coming inside.”
A worker at the gallery who spoke to the BBC said he feared for his life.
“They were wielding knives at each other, and a lady tried to stop them.
“I’m scared that this can happen here. It was very scary.”
The footage – taken from the gallery’s reception – was played at Nottingham Crown Court, reports NotthinghshireLive.
Recorder David Bedenham sentenced Bazuna and Bolton to a young offender’s institution.
He said: “Anyone watching the video footage would conclude it was a petrifying and shocking scene.
“Members of the public were present and were understandably seriously alarmed and distressed.
“You were both part of groups involved in an altercation and three of them, including you two, were armed with weapons and were waving machetes at each other and threatening each other and that went on for several minutes.”
Mr Bedenham went on to describe Bazuna as “relatively new to Nottingham”, having move from London to “make sure you did not get into any trouble”.
He added he was “alarmed” to read in a probation report, the teen “always” carries a machete, while co-defendant Bolton had also carried weapons for some time.
He advised them to take the opportunity while in custody to “reflect that you can live a more constructive life”.
The video shows a number of young men with their hoods up, three of them carrying machetes outside the Contemporary’s entrance.
A passer-by appears to calm the situation and some of the gang run down the steps next to the gallery.
Lauren Butts, prosecuting, said the defendants were “making slashing motions” with the blades, with one witness describing seeking refuge inside the gallery.
Nottingham crime statistics
Nottingham is on the lower end of crime rates in similar cities with only 124.5 crimes per 1000 people that police recorded the year to June 2023.
But, data from police.uk reveals that its rate is higher compared to other cities for the possession of weapon offence.
Nottingham police recorded 2.33 weapon possession offences per 1000 people, similar to areas like Wolverhampton or Salford and much higher than Liverpool or Leicester.
In the more general violent crime category, Nottingham had 34.2 violent crimes per 1000 people in 2023 – similar to East London.
They said staff locked the door to prevent the group getting inside.
The teens were later arrested and the weapons recovered.
Bazuna and Bolton both pleaded guilty to threatening another with a bladed article in public, and affray.
Bazuna, of New Basford, has no previous convictions. He was given a 16-month custodial term.
Matthew Pardoe, defending, said his client had moved to Nottingham two years ago from a deprived area of South London.
He has been at college and has passed his first year of exams to become a mechanic, he added.
Mr Pardoe said time in custody has allowed Bazuna to “re-evaluate where he is going” and it has now dawned on him carrying a knife “puts him more danger than not having one”.
Bolton, of Bakersfield, was sent away for 18 months with the judge detailing a previous possession of a knife conviction as the factor for the slightly longer term.
Jabeen Akhtar, his barrister, said the offence occurred 11 days after his 18th birthday.
He said Bolton volunteers at Age Concern and described his family – who were in the court – as “mortified” but they “remain supportive”.
Both barristers were instructed by Matt Goode of ABR Solicitors.