Hollywood Bowl ‘Joke’ sentence condemned as twins walk out of court

A number of BirminghamLive readers have branded the country’s legal justice system “lawless” and “a joke” after twin brothers avoided jail despite causing absolute carnage at a birthday party. The pair went on a machete rampage at the Hollywood Bowl in Rubery.

They crashed a family birthday party after accusing their innocent victims of ‘staring’ at them. Jason Joyce caused trouble after throwing a punch before pulling out a machete, which he waved wildly. His brother Mark Joyce tried to hit someone with a pool cue but ended up being wrestled to the floor, Birmingham Crown Court was told.

Both also released glasses that hit a man in the face and caused him long-term damage and forced him to quit his £60,000-a-year job. The unemployed pair – who were 17 at the time of the attack, at 11.30pm on October 30, 2021 – were criticized by Judge Richard Bond as “drunken scumbags any decent person would be afraid to meet on a night out night”.

READ MORE: Judge says why he can’t jail Hollywood Bowl twins as he sentences ‘ITV’ family

READ MORE: Chaos at Birmingham Hollywood Bowl as ‘worst nightmare’ teenage twins attack birthday party

But the judge said their ages at the time and the fact it happened three years ago saved them from jail. He confirmed they would both have to pay “quite a bit of compensation” despite their only income being £430 a month on Universal Credit. The brothers, now in their 20s, from Handsworth, admitted unlawful wounding. Jason Joyce also pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and making threats with a bladed article.

They were sentenced last week to 18 months in prison suspended for two years. They were ordered to carry out 175 hours of unpaid work and 40 days of rehabilitation activity. Mark Joyce was told to pay £750 compensation and Jason was ordered to pay £1,500.

Sentencing, Judge Bond said: “That family had the misfortune of attending the Hollywood Bowl in Rubery. I say bad luck because you two drunken thugs, that’s exactly what you were, attacked and injured them. You are the kind of decent young people. the person is afraid to meet on a night out because you cause misery and upset.”

However, readers were unimpressed by the sentence. One wrote under the BirminghamLive story: “Absolute joke on the justice system.” Another said: “No discouragement. Lawless Britain. The justice system is a joke.” Another added: “They might not be able to send Nic but they should have the power to stop their records.”

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