Footballer brags that 'big things are coming' - days before being jailed
An aspiring footballer boasted "big things coming" on his agent's social media page - and was then jailed days later for "truly shocking and wanton' street violence".
Blue Butler, 21, "frenziedly" kicked, stamped on and punched Ian Willey as he lay stricken on the ground. A court heard Butler, 18 at the time, and his mate Jack Smith targeted Mr Willey and his friend after an evening at a pub - just a week after lockdown rules had been eased to allow bars to reopen.
CCTV played at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday showed captured the attack, which left Mr Willey needing surgery to his ankle and he ironically can no longer kick a ball due to his injury's lifelong impact. Just weeks later, Butler, on police bail at the time, became involved in another altercation after an evening at the same pub - The Clipper - in Dartford, Kent. On this occasion Butler and Button took offence when Butler, having sat in another man's seat, was asked to move.
Butler had boasted "big things are coming" on his agent's social media pageButler appeared for sentencing to these attacks - and another today - days after being described in an Instagram post by sports management agency Millenniall Media as a "phenomenal winger currently on trials for some great clubs", with followers urged to "keep an eye out on his journey". Butler himself commented "Big things coming, thanks for the opportunity" and shared it on his Facebook.
Button was spared immediate jail but Butler and Smith were sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, as they had been involved in two separate attacks and while subject to bail. Judge Catherine Moore said behaviour could have resulted in fatal injuries.
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"While these three incidents were quite separate and your cases are individual, there are matters of commonality in that each involved truly shocking public violence and the sort that could quite easily have resulted in injuries far more serious," she told them. "This sort of behaviour, wanton violence in public at night-time when members of the public are going about their lawful business, has a significant effect on society."
Layla Hales also appeared in court but was spared jail despite committing affrayThe judge said she could not suspend Butler's prison sentence despite his "budding" career forged in the three years since the attack on Mr Willey.
Layla Hales, a 21-year-old "self-employed" model, was also spared jail for her role the attacks after admitting affray. Hales, of Sidcup, Kent, was just 17 at the time. Smith, from Swanley, Kent, and 19 at the time, admitted GBH as well as affray. Button, of Swanscombe, Kent, admitted affray. Butler pleaded guilty to causing Mr Willey grievous bodily harm (GBH) and affray. He has a caution for battery in 2015.
The court heard the attack on Mr Willey happened in the early hours of July 11, 2020. Mr Willey and his friend were targeted and followed by the yobs in Dartford. Butler could be seen on the footage pulling his hood over his head just seconds before launching his attack, the court heard.
"Mr Willey was struck by Butler and he fell to the floor where he was then subjected to a sustained attack by both Butler and Smith who kicked, stamped and punched him while he was on the ground curled up in a ball. Both defendants then left the area and appeared on the CCTV to fist-bump each other as if in celebration of what had just occurred," said prosecutor Stacey-Lee Holland.
She added that Smith, having later been arrested and shown the CCTV, told police "It's disgusting but life happens". Just a month after the attack and while Butler was on police bail he became involved in another altercation after an evening at the same pub.
On this occasion, both Butler and Button invited Jamie Payne for a fight, which he refused, but they then waited outside where they confronted him and then repeatedly kicked and punched him on the ground in a "nasty assault", said Miss Holland.
A group of women who tried to intervene had liquid thrown over them by Button while Butler had to be held back by doormen, the court was told. Mr Payne suffered bruising but did not need hospital treatment.
Mizan Abdulrouf had urged the court to impose a suspended sentence, saying that with football contracts signed, he had "long career prospects".
"He has grown up, he has shown maturity and he has shown remorse. He accepts his footballing career is in the embryonic stages but he says it's a start he doesn't wish to let go under any circumstances," Mr Abdulrouf told the hearing.
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Hales, a 'self-employed model' was handed a 12-month community orderSmith was present in the Mr Willey incident. He and Hales were also caught on CCTV repeatedly kicking and stamping on an unidentified man as he lay motionless and seemingly-unconscious on the ground in Dartford in February 2020.
Footage played at their sentencing hearing showed Hales, then just 17, also being held back from the victim before he was eventually dragged, bleeding from his head, by others to safety. The court heard she had been drinking and taking drugs that night.
When interviewed by a probation officer, Hales was said to have resorted to victim-blaming, and shown little empathy or understanding for his injuries. Katherine Higgs, defending, told the court that she had now shown remorse, "moved on with her life" and was working as a "self-employed model".
Ms Higgs added Hales had also completed nursery school teacher training but "due to this offence she feels that's no longer something she will be able to do so intends to focus on her modelling". Hales was handed a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity requirements.
Button, who was said to have since set up a successful business with employees, was given six-months' jail suspended for 18 months with 100 hours' unpaid work.
In a letter read to the court, an apologetic Butler wrote: "I was 18 at the time and I was not the man I am today. There are no excuses for my actions. Today I don't drink, my mind is clear, I have career prospects, I have a footballing contract I have recently signed through a sport agency.
"These are mistakes I made three years ago and I would like to deeply apologise for my actions and the harm I caused. I don't see the man I was three years ago when I look in the mirror. I don't wish to see the man I was three years ago. Once again, I apologise for my wrongdoing."
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