Police make Godiva knife arrest amid reports of '100 youths fighting and running amok'

[dutchman]

A teenager was arrested at Godiva Festival after reports that a youth was seen with a machete-type knife



Police confirmed they made the arrest at the festival yesterday.

It comes amid isolated reports of disorder in and around War Memorial Park yesterday.

A police spokesman said: "Police have arrested and charged a youth with carrying a knife at Coventry’s Godiva Festival.

"Officers stopped the 16-year-old boy at 7.15pm yesterday (Saturday) following several reports of a youth seen carrying a weapon.

"The youth was charged with possessing a bladed article in a public place and bailed to appear before Coventry youth court on 27 July."

There have been no reports of anyone injured at the event.

But it has been reported on social media that there was large-scale disorder on Stoneleigh Avenue last night, with "at least 100 youths fighting and running amok".

A police press spokesman said details were unclear this afternoon.

But one woman on Facebook described the scenes as "utter mayhem".

She wrong: "It was utter mayhem on Stoneleigh Ave last night around 10-10.30pm.

"At least a 100 youths were fighting and running amok.

"I saw some with knives, they were running over the top of cars to get to each other.

"It was unbelievable, one boy was badly attacked, don't know if he was stabbed."

[dutchman]

Boy attacked with brick during mass street fight after Godiva Festival

A teenage boy is in hospital with serious injuries after being attacked with a brick on Saturday evening.

The 15-year-old suffered a broken cheekbone following a fight believed to involve 15 to 20 youths in Stoneleigh Avenue at around 10pm.

It is believed those involved may have been leaving the Godiva Festival in the nearby War Memorial Park.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "Police were alerted just after 10pm on Saturday night to a disorder in Stoneleigh Avenue involving a group of youths.

"On arrival officers found a 15-year-old boy with a facial injury and suspected fractured cheekbone; it’s believed he was hit in the face with a house brick during the disturbance.

"Officers are waiting to speak to the victim to get a clearer account of what has happened. Anyone with information about the incident, or how the injury was sustained, is asked to call CID at Willenhall police station on the 101 number."

In a separate incident, police did arrest a 16-year-old at the Godiva Festival on Saturday evening and charged him with carrying a knife.

The teenager has been bailed to appear at Coventry youth court on July 27.

There have been no reports of anyone injured at Godiva Fesitval.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the trouble in Stoneleigh Avenue to contact them on 101, or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

[dutchman]

Boy, 16, admits carrying knife at Godiva Festival

A teenager has admitted taking a knife in to Godiva Festival on the busiest night in the event’s history.

The 16-year-old boy was arrested while 88,000 people enjoyed the likes of Example and Tom Clarke at Coventry’s War Memorial Park on Saturday, July 8.

Police received a number of reports that evening of a youngster seen carrying a machete-type knife.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Birmingham Youth Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article in a public place.

Magistrates made the decision to refer the teenager to the youth offending team.

The chances are if he was carrying a weapon he is also involved in drug dealing.