ASBO brothers who were first to be handed the anti-crime orders 20 years ago are jailed for total of 26 years for attacking strangers in the street ‘for sport’
- Tyler Williams and Shamen Williams were 13 and 10 when given ABSOS in 2003
- The pair along with their younger sibling were jailed for attacks with a machete
Notorious brothers among the first to be slapped with an Anti-Social Behavior Order have been jailed for a total of 26 years after attacking strangers in the street ‘for sport’.
Tyler Williams and Shamen Williams were just baby-faced 13 and 10-year-olds when Kent Police took their first mugshots and ‘named and shamed’ them for their unruly behaviour after they were served with the ASBOs in 2003.
But 20 years later, the pair, along with young sibling Brandon, have been jailed for their involvement in two separate attacks in one night involving the use of machetes.
The three brothers embarked on an hour-long violent spree ‘for sport or fun’ on March 4 2021, targeting strangers in the street with a machete in Kent.
One victim, a woman parked in her car near a shop in Richmond Road, Gillingham, Kent, at about 9.40pm was assaulted by Shamen, suffering injuries to her face and head, and her vehicle damaged by Tyler.
Tyler Williams and Shamen Williams were just baby-faced 13 and 10-year-olds when Kent Police took their first mugshots and ‘named and shamed’ them for their unruly behaviour
He also brandished a machete at a man and chased him down the street.
Then, at around 10.55pm on Institute Road, Chatham, three men were attacked by Shamen with a machete, with one needing treatment in a London hospital for multiple injuries to his face, shoulder and back, while another was taken to a local hospital.
Although Tyler was unarmed on this occasion and did not inflict any of the wounds himself, he was said to have encouraged Shamen, urging ‘Go on, do him’.
Tyler, of Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, was subsequently convicted of two offences of affray, possessing a bladed article, criminal damage, wounding with intent, and possessing cocaine with intent to supply.
Shamen, of Tupman Close, Rochester, Kent, was convicted of two offences of affray, two of possessing a bladed article, assault causing actual bodily harm, criminal damage, wounding with intent and attempted wounding with intent.
Brandon, formerly from Folkestone, Kent, but now believed to have moved out of the county, was convicted of two offences of affray.
Their previous offending has included attacking victims with their Pitbull crossbreed dogs as well as a clawhammer.
But their latest crimes, committed while on licence from prison sentences handed down in 2018, were said by Judge Lazarus to reflect ‘a step-up’ in their antisocial conduct.
Tyler, 33, was sentenced on Tuesday to 13 years’ imprisonment while Shamen, 30, whose Facebook profile describes him as a ‘Full time scumbag’, was also jailed for 13 years at a separate hearing on March 31.
Tyler Williams, 33, of Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, was sentenced on Tuesday to 13 years’ imprisonment
Shamen Williams, 30, whose Facebook profile describes him as a ‘Full time scumbag’, was also jailed for 13 years at a separate hearing on March 31
Younger sibling Brandon, 24, was jailed for 18 months for his involvement in the two incidents at another hearing in December last year
Younger sibling Brandon, 24, was jailed for 18 months for his involvement in the two incidents at another hearing in December last year, but due to time spent on remand, has been released.
Brothers Tyler and Shamen were ordered to serve a minimum of two-thirds of their custodial terms, by which time Tyler will be eligible for release.
Shamen, who was classed a dangerous offender posing significant harm to the public, will have his fate decided by the Parole Board.
He will also have a further four years added to any licence period once he is released.
The final sentencing hearing of the three siblings brings to an end legal proceedings at Maidstone Crown Court, Kent, which been repeatedly adjourned or delayed by their unruly and disruptive behaviour during the past two years.
This included them often refusing to leave prison to attend numerous court hearings, as well as complaining about not being provided with their medication once at court and failing to keep appointments with the probation service.
It was even alleged at an earlier sentencing hearing – which had to be abandoned – that threats had been made against one of their own barristers.
Dock staff in January told Judge Robert Lazarus that Shamen had allegedly warned he would ‘t**t’ his own lawyer if he got a ‘heavy’ sentence as he had ‘f**k all to lose’.
One victim, a woman parked in her car near a shop in Richmond Road, Gillingham, Kent, at about 9.40pm was assaulted by Shamen, suffering injuries to her face and head
At around 10.55pm on Institute Road, Chatham, three men were attacked, with one needing treatment in a London hospital for multiple injuries to his face
He denied this but it led to the judge remarking that the brothers were ‘more disruptive than any other defendants in this court that anyone can remember’.
The decision was also made to sentence the pair via prison video link rather than having them appear in person.
But neither was present to learn their actual fate as Tyler refused to leave his cell at HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, and Shamen walked out of the prison link room at nearby HMP Elmley partway through his hearing.
He warned that the elder two brothers faced life sentences if they came before the courts for similar behaviour in the future.
But he also said mitigation could be found in their ‘significantly dysfunctional upbringing and childhood’
Their father, Wayne, who has reportedly defended them in the past, was himself in jail earlier this year for unconnected offences.
It meant for a time prison life was a family affair with Shamen, Brandon and Wayne all locked up in HMP Elmley while Tyler was in neighbouring Swaleside jail.
Passing sentence on Tyler, who also has a previous conviction for assaulting a prison guard in 2020, Judge Lazarus said he needed to ‘re-evaluate his attitude’.
Tyler refused to leave his cell at HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent during the hearing
Ordering that a copy of his sentencing remarks be given to Tyler, he added: ‘He has demonstrated scant regard for the court and individuals in authority. He has repeatedly not cooperated with the court and frequently refused to attend, including today.
‘There has been non-cooperation with probation and refused to attend two appointments for the purpose of a pre-sentence report, and that leads me to believe there is a poor prospect of rehabilitation.
‘No motive for the violence has been identified. Although the sport-like bragging came from Shamen, I am left to conclude that Tyler too was engaged in violence for fun or sport.
‘When he gave evidence during the trial, what was plain to anyone observing Tyler is that he is considerably more intelligent than his two brothers and clearly able to demonstrate insight into his offending behaviour.
‘But he seriously needs to re-evaluate his attitude. I know he has the intelligence and ability to change, and I would warn him he is moving perilously close to a life sentence if he commits further offences of violence.’
Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett introduced ASBOs in 1998 in an attempted crackdown on youth disorder.
They have since been replaced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by civil injunctions and criminal behaviour orders (CBOs).
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