Court hears of code of silence on The Nightingales in Newbury: Callum Brown cross examined in Jake Bozarth, Dwayne Toussaint and Jake Blandford GBH trial
A JURY has heard of a code of silence on an estate amid tales of violence and intimidation.
It was partly enforced by assault victim Callum Brown on The Nightingales estate in Newbury, it is alleged.
The code meant crimes were not reported to police for fear of the consequences of being labelled a “grass,” jurors were told.
Jake Bozarth, Dwayne Toussaint and Jake Blandford all deny causing Mr Brown grievous bodily harm with intent.
Click here for the trial opening:
Meanwhile Mr Brown has been forced to concede his criminal past under intense cross examination by the barrister of one of the accused.
Charles Royle, for Dwayne Toussaint, challenged him: “You’re violent, aren’t you?
“You’re a menace on The Nightingales estate; you rely on the fact that people don’t go to the police about your behaviour and so you can get away with it, don’t you?”
Mr Brown replied: “No.”
Mr Royle reminded him of his previous convictions including an assault on police and making death threats and pressed him: “You’re a menace and you’re violent towards Mr Toussaint and his family.
“You made threats to kill Lisa Cross.”
Referring to CCTV footage screened to jurors, Mr Royle went on: “That’s you hitting a front door with a machete; Lisa Cross said she heard the whoosh of a machete; you said: ‘I’m going to kill you, you f****** slag.’”
Mr Brown replied: “That’s a bit exaggerated.”
Mr Royle pressed further: “You got away with your behaviour for over a year; no matter how disgraceful, you felt no one would report you.
“Because that’s how people operate on The Nightingales estate - you don’t co-operate with the police or you’re seen as a grass?”
Mr Brown replied: “Not at all.”
Mr Brown has denied carrying an extendable baton, or asp, on the day of the attack which landed him in hospital.
But Mr Royle said: “I suggest you came down that road looking to cause trouble at Mr Toussaint’s house; he was in his house and came out to see you and your friends pretty much in his garden.”
Mr Brown replied: “I disagree.”
Mr Royle said: “Mr Toussaint came out of the garden with a baseball bat, swinging it to keep you away?”
Again, Mr Brown replied: “I disagree.”
Mr Royle suggested: “You hit Jake Blandford with a weapon; Mr Toussaint joined in to chase you away?”
Mr Brown replied once more: “I disagree.”
Finally Mr Royle reminded him that police had found a set of car keys in his possession and, when they searched the car, they found an asp.
Mr Brown replied: “It’s not my car.”
Mr Royle said: “You will lie and do anything you can get away with, won’t you?”
Mr Brown replied simply: “No.”
The case continues.
