A CB radio ‘fox’ hunt, which erupted into a carpar

A CB radio ‘fox’ hunt, which erupted into a carpark
brawl, ended tragically when a victim suffered brain damage,
an Old Bailey jury heard.

Mark Barrel, 25, who told police he was hit on the
head with a baseball bat, suffered blood clots in his brain,
said prosecutor Mr Robert Neill.

A series of hi-tech neurological tests also showed
bruising to both the inside and outside of his brain.

‘The clots eventually resolved themselves but it was
noted that his speech was slurred after the incident,’ said
counsel.

Mr Barrel, of Harlow, Essex, is still receiving speech
therapy to hopefully restore a normal speaking voice, the court
heard.

Jobless Richard McKellow, 24, of Pittmansfield, Harlow,
Essex, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily
harm, but claims he punched Mr Barrel in the head and did not
use a baseball bat.

Judge Geoffrey Grigson said a Newton hearing to decide
the issue of whether any weapon was used may have to be held
before McKellow’s sentencing on December 3, this year.

McKellow was remanded on bail on a condition that he
not use any CB radios.

‘Your bail is no indication of any sentence to be
passed,’ the judge said.

‘This is a very serious matter and you must expect a
term of imprisonment.

‘
The court heard that McKellow was one of a group of
friends participating in a CB radio ‘fox hunt’ in Harlow at
about 1.

30 am, on July 11, this year.

The ‘sport’ called on one motorist to hide his car and
talk continually on his CB radio.

The other motorists tried to trace the ‘fox’s’ exact
whereabouts by the strength of his signal on their CB radio.

The
stronger the signal, the closer they were to him.

During the ‘chase’, an argument erupted on the airwaves
when a group member, who thought his girlfriend was at home,
realised she was on the hunt riding with another man.

Several cars congregated at the Burger King restaurant
carpark in Princes Gate, Templefields, Harlow, and several men
started brawling.

McKellow, who was not directly involved in the lovers’
tiff, attacked Mr Barrel after the victim adopted a boxing
stance, said counsel.

Mr Barrel told police he took up a boxing pose, but said
he was facing another man, not McKellow.

The victim was knocked to the ground and later rushed to
hospital.

Several witnesses said Mr Barrel was struck with a
baseball bat.

ends