Sheffield group drove family from home with machete attack

Connor Edley, 26, of Fitzhubert Road, pleaded guilty to affray, criminal damage and possession of a blade.

Louise Barnes, 21, of Shirehall Road, Caroline Holmes, 47, Jessica Holmes, 19, and Cara Thompson, 23, all of Fitzhubert Road, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to using threatening words and behaviour.

Prosecutor David Hall said the incident happened at 5pm on May 16, 2017, when female complainant was at home with her partner and their children on Fairfax Drive, Woodthorpe, in Sheffield.

Connor Edley, who was carrying a large machete, entered through the unlocked front door and punched her in the face.

A second unknown man, in a mask, said: "I know he's got my weed."

"The four women were outside, screaming at her to come out," said Mr Hall. "They were shouting words to the effect: "Get your missus to come out and I will rip her head off.""

As he left, Edley used the machete to smash the rear window of the complainant's silver Vauxhall.

In a victim impact statement, the complainant said: "This has turned our life upside down The kids have had nightmares. We had to move into temporary accommodation. It's like starting again. It's been a very stressful thing, settling the kids."

The court heard the case was delayed because it went through the prosecution appeal process.

Felicity Hemlin, for Edley, said he was now a hardworking man, with no previous convictions.

"He has been on bail for a long time," she said. "There has been no further offending. This is out of character for him. He wholeheartedly apologises."

Tim Gaubert, for Louise Barnes and Jessica Holmes, said both women have had a child since the offence.

"Both my clients bitterly regret getting involved in this incident. There has been no offending since."

Laura Marshall, for Caroline Holmes, said: "All of these defendants were told no further action was to be taken.

"The first they were aware was when they received a summons in December 2019. After three years these defendants will not be troubling the court again.

"If (my client) could take back time and behave in a different way she would."

Ben Campbell said Thompson made an early guilty plea, is principal carer for her young child.

Ms Marshall and Mr Cambpell both asked for the judge to consider an absolute discharge.

Judge Sarah Wright told the defendants: "Over three years ago you went mob handed to the complainant's home. As a result the family were forced to leave the area causing much distress and disruption.

"Connor Edley, wielding a bladed article inevitably attracts a custodial sentence."

But the judge found she could suspend the sentence because of the age of the offence, and imposed a 12 month sentence, suspended for one year, on Edley.

To the female defendants, the judge said: "This was totally inappropriate behaviour that night, adding to what was a very frightening experience."

She gave each one of them a three month conditional discharge.

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The Star is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Sheffield news and information online. Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.