Brutal attack followed slave joke

A thug has been jailed for five years for a brutal attack on his sister's white boyfriend after his joke comment about a "black slave" was misunderstood as a racial slur.

Charlton "Charlie" Barrett, pictured, was joined by his mother and brother in the assault on 25-year-old gas engineer Matthew Round but went on the run for almost a year after being charged. Mr Round was on holiday in Florida with girlfriend Raylene Bright and her croupier brother Richard, 32, when the remark was made.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard he said in jest to her as the trio relaxed in a bar at the start of their two-week sunshine break: "Oi, I'm the boss round here". She replied: "Yes, white master." He also jokingly called her his "black slave".

The light-hearted exchange sparked a terrifying chain of events that has forced both of them to adopt new identities in a different part of the country under strict orders never to contact relatives and friends from their former life in Wolverhampton.

It also put Raylene's mother Burnella Bright, aged 54, and brother Richard Bright behind bars for wounding with intent. She was sentenced to four-and-a half years after a trial in May while her son, who pleaded guilty on the day his case was due to start, was given four years.

Charlton Barrett fled after the brutal beating that left Mr Round needing 40 stitches in head wounds and ruined the lives of the victim's 25-year-old girlfriend and her family.

The court heard Richard Bright told his mother and brother about the holiday remarks on his return to Wolverhampton last September. They went straight to the home of Matthew and Raylene in Torridge Drive, Wednesfield, where Matthew was battered with an iron bar by the men while Burnella Bright grabbed her daughter round the throat to stop her intervening.

Charlton Barrett led the attack, shouting at his victim: "Where's your white power now?"

The 35-year-old, of Pond Lane, Fordhouses, pleaded guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm. He handed himself in at Wednesfield police station in August after 11 months on the run.

He has previous convictions for violence but in recent years has worked for a mentoring project as a positive role model for young people, the court heard yesterday.

Defending him at the court yesterday, Tamia Tagon said: "This is a tragic case for all parties involved. A family has been torn apart."