14 men jailed after large fight with weapons

Fourteen men have been sentenced after a large fight involving weapons where several people suffered serious injuries in Stoke-on-Trent.

A large group of men started to fight on and around Sun Street, Shelton, at 3pm on 25 July 2019. The fighting involved two groups, one associated with Shelton one associated with Cobridge. The confrontation was planned on both sides. They arranged to meet and settle their differences with violence. Some were armed, some with machetes, large knives and metal bars. As a result, four of the men received serious injuries and hospital treatment, including stab wounds and deep cuts.

The incident led to a major police investigation. CCTV footage was gathered from premises in the area, some eye-witnesses were found, evidence of medical treatment of those who were injured was gathered and evidence was obtained of phone calls between the defendants. The vehicles and places involved were examined for physical evidence, weapons were recovered, bloodstains swabbed and fingerprints found.

The men were sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court starting on 17 March 2025.

Amjad Mahmood, 35, of HMP Dovegate, was jailed for three years and four months after pleading guilty to violent disorder in Shelton in July 2019, as well as violent disorder in Hanley on 3 August 2024.

Hassan Butt, 26, of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Fawad Saffee, 30, of Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, and Khaleel Haqnawaz, 30, of Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, were jailed for three years after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit violent disorder following a trial.

Hakeem Suleman, 25, of HMP Dovegate, was jailed for two years and 10 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

Usman Rafi, 31, of HMP Dovegate, was jailed for two years and six months after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

Furquan Mohammed, 29, of Nottingham, Akeeb Iqbal, 34, of Birmingham, and Thomas Tatton, 32, of Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, were jailed for two years and three months after they were found guilty of conspiracy to commit violent disorder.

Junaid Iqbal, 24, of Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent and Ismahel Khan, 28, of Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, were jailed for two years and three months after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

Tyler Shaw, 19, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, and Jack Gilbert, 23, of Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, were given 18-month community orders after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit violent disorder. Joshua Johnson, 22, of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, was also given an 18-month community order after he pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Detective Inspector Gina Pope, of our Major Investigations Department, said: “Members of the public, including drivers and pedestrians, many of them young children, going about their everyday lives were faced with a terrifying street fight with weapons.

“The events that preceded the fighting show that all those who were involved who were in the area were there for the purpose of the violence confrontation that followed. There was clear evidence of the involvement and 14 men have now been convicted and sentenced.”