TWO teenagers have been jailed for their involvement in an early morning incident outside a city nightclub which ended with a car hitting a crowd of pedestrians. Benjamin Thomas, 19, and Callum Banton, 19, both of Newport, appeared in Cardiff Crown Court today after pleading guilty to affray. The court heard a fight broke out at around 5.30am on the morning of Sunday, April 29, outside the Courtyard night club on Cambrian Road in the city centre. Today, Judge Jeremy Jenkins made it clear that neither defendant could have foresaw the incident would end with a car ploughing into pedestrians but added that it was their actions which "precipitated" the fight. Prosecutor Jason Howells showed the court CCTV of Banton “squaring up” with others on the crowded street, before a large brawl broke out involving another group of men. “And then it’s Thomas that gets involved,” added Mr Howells. The court heard that both defendants left the scene after a car hit a crowd of pedestrians, leaving four people seriously injured. Thomas had a number of previous convictions, including for dishonest offences, assault, dangerous driving, and possession of controlled drugs, the court was told. Banton had one previous conviction for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. In mitigation for Thomas, who appeared on video link from HMP Swansea, Gareth Williams said that the defendant had used his time in custody to reflect on his life. “His situation has changed dramatically in that he now has a child, who he has only seen once after his girlfriend visited him. “He is determined to get his life back on track and even if he gets an immediate custodial sentence he will start this process as soon as he is released.”

Harry Baker, speaking in mitigation for Banton, who appeared in court with his mother and was visibly upset throughout the proceedings, spoke of his client's plans to attend college in September to start a carpentry course. He said: "This would be a big step in terms of his rehabilitation. I would ask your honour to make it possible for him to take part in that course. "If your honour is against that I ask you to keep the sentence as short as possible.”

But today, addressing both defendants, Judge Jeremy Jenkins said:

“Sadly this is another example of drunken young people in public engaging in violent behaviour. "What happened thereafter was not your meaning, but it was your actions jointly that precipitated this fight. "This was a serious case of public disorder precipitated by your actions. “It seems to me that I would be failing in my duty were I not to say publicly that your actions go well beyond the custody threshold. “Only a custodial sentence in your cases can be appropriate for your actions.”

Sentencing Thomas to 11 months and Banton to 10 months, the judge added that both defendants would spend half of their sentence in a young offenders institution before being released on licence. McCauley Cox, of John Ireland Close, Ringland, is to stand trial accused of attempted murder. He denies the charges and will appear in court on October 15. Detective Chief Inspector Nicholas Wilkie, of Gwent Police, said: “We welcome the sentences handed to Callum Banton and Benjamin Thomas.
In Newport, Wales McCauley Cox drove his car into a crowd outside a nightclub and intentionally hit and injured 4 people before he fled the scene. He claimed he was trying to stop a fight but was found guilty and sentenced for causing grievous bodily harm with intent, causing serious injury through dangerous driving and causing actual bodily harm. Teens Benjamin Thomas and Callum Banton pleaded guilty to affray for their part in starting the brawl which preceded the attack.