THREE members of a Bradford family have been given suspended prison sentences after a judge watched doorbell camera footage of a violent disturbance outside a house more than two years ago.
Bradford Crown Court heard today that the doorstep confrontation in July 2021 was sparked by an earlier attack on a family member which led to him being hospitalised with a bleed on the brain.
The six-minute footage, from a home in the Idle area, showed James O’Reilly, his sister Chloe, and mum Carol attending at the house along with Gareth Shaw and others.
The recording captured a verbal argument taking place on the doorstep between the group and the occupants of the house before a fight breaks out and spills out into the front garden and driveway.
James O’Reilly, 29, was caught on camera punching the male complainant, but the injured man, who suffered a fractured eye socket and nerve damage, was also assaulted by another unidentified male and it was unclear who caused the serious injuries or in what circumstances.
Prosecutor Abigail Langford told the judge that the complainant in the case was now deceased having succumbed to cancer.
O’Reilly, of Roundwood Avenue, Bradford, admitted a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm in relation to his use of violence that day and he was sentenced to 19 months in prison, suspended for two years.
He will have to do 150 hours unpaid work and comply with 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days.
Recorder Catherine Silverton said the attack on a family member was not an excuse for the incident, but it explained why they had behaved in a way that was out of character for all of them.
In deciding to impose suspended prison sentences she said there had been a considerable delay between the commission of the offences and the defendants coming to court and it was not their fault.
Carol O’Reilly, 53, also of Roundwood Avenue, her daughter Chloe O’Reilly, 31, of Osterley Grove, Bradford, and 31-year-old Gareth Shaw, of Mount Terrace, Bradford, all admitted a charge of affray and were each sentenced to 14 months in prison suspended for 18 months.
Shaw and Chloe O’Reilly must comply with 15 RAR days and do 100 hours unpaid work.
Carol O’Reilly must comply with a two-month home curfew between 8pm and 7am and do 80 hours unpaid work.
Recorder Silverton said none of the defendants had any relevant previous convictions and each of them had demonstrated genuine remorse.
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