A Sheffield drug-dealer who was acquitted of murdering Lewis Bagshaw has been jailed after a machete gang attack
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Sheffield Crown Court heard on October 22 how Jervaise Bennett, aged 21, of no fixed abode, admitted he had been dealing heroin and crack-cocaine while he was with Emar Wiley who was found guilty of murdering 21-year-old Lewis Bagshaw near Southey Green, Sheffield.
Nicholas Campbell QC, prosecuting, said Bennett said he had been going around with Wiley in a BMW dealing drugs in the Sheffield S5 and Shiregreen areas around the time Mr Bagshaw was stabbed to death in July 2019 by Wiley.
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Hide AdBennett, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply between May and July, 2019, and he also admitted wounding with intent after being involved in a group machete attack on complainant Reece Hague in September, 2019.
Mr Campbell said: “It was on Thursday, September 19, last year, that the complainant Reece Hague was standing outside an address and four or five people suddenly appeared and came running towards him and they wore black and their faces were covered and the group launched a violent attack on Mr Hague who retreated inside his home.”
The complainant, who had posted a Facebook appeal concerning the murder of Lewis Bagshaw, was attacked by the group including Bennett and he was hit with a machete to his head, back and hands, according to Mr Campbell.
He added the complainant’s mother had to push against the front door to shut it and was nearly stabbed as the machete was pushed through the letter box.
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Hide AdPeter Moulson QC, defending: “This was a group attack and Reece Hague indicated Jervaise Bennett was responsible for the blow to his shoulder and others were responsible for their share of the injuries inflicted upon him.
"This was an isolated incident and there was no evidence of previous violence towards Reece Hague.”
Mr Moulson added a price has been put on Bennett’s head while he has been in custody and he has been attacked and slashed to the face with a razor blade and he has had to be moved to another prison.
Judge Jeremy Richardson QC, who described the machete as “murderous” told Bennett: “Serious injury was caused to the head, side of the body and hands of the victim. There was considerable blood loss and plastic surgery had to be performed.”
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Hide AdHe added: “The backdrop to the violence appears to be connected to the murder trial which took place eariler this year. It may be the victim of your criminality reposted social media items which angered you or your associates or both.”
Judge Richardson sentenced Bennett to 12 years and six months of custody.
Emar Wiley, aged 17, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to minimum of 16 years in prison in July for the murder of Lewis Bagshaw after a trial in February and March. He is also serving five-and-a-half years’ custody concurrently for wounding Mr Bagshaw’s father and three-years’ custody concurrently for possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.
A reporting restriction on naming Wiley was lifted after a successful application by The Star.