Judge criticises police over armed vigilantes

A district judge has criticised police for not bringing vigilantes armed with machetes, knives, hammers and pool cues before the courts.

District Judge Michael Wheeler said he "could not believe" the majority of the group caught outside a house in Hill Street, Portobello wielding the weapons, had not been arrested.

Prosecutor Mr Roger Blezzard told Wolverhampton Magistrates Court his superiors at the Crown Prosecution Service would be raising concerns with West Midlands Police.

Shaun Addison, aged 20, was the only one of the group to face court. He pleaded guilty to possessing a metal claw hammer.

Mr Blezzard said: "A group of men believed that someone had committed a burglary and were going around armed to remonstrate with that person."

Mr Wheeler added: "I can't believe they were dealt with in any other way than being brought before a court."

Mr Martin McNamara, defending, said the alleged burglary victim had been an elderly woman, saying Addison "foolishly" took a hammer handed to him by someone else instead of throwing it away.

The court was told on Thursday that Addison, of Nechells Court, Portobello, had previous convictions, including two for affray and possession of an unloaded air gun.

He was still on licence after being sentenced to 16 months in prison for a similar offence.

He was remanded in custody to be sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on March 1. West Midlands Police spokesman Lee Page said police had responded to reports of disorder but found a group of around 10 people who were not believed to have been involved in the original call.