Seven members of an Ipswich gang who were involved in a string of offences including drug dealing, public order offences and two violent incidents in the town will be sentenced next week.

One member of the J Block, gang stabbed a member of a rival gang in the back outside the Cock and Pye pub in Upper Brook Street in June last year, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

The victim was taken to hospital with injuries including a punctured lung which were initially considered to be life threatening but the following day he had discharged himself from hospital against medical advice and refused to co-operate with the police investigation, said Duncan O’Donnell, prosecuting.

A few weeks later on August 15 last year there was another violent incident at Maple Park near Victoria Street in Ipswich.

On this occasion 27-year-old Michael Crumlish from Clacton, who wasn’t a J Block member, had gone to the area armed with a machete and was approached by a J Block member armed with a cosh.

The incident, which took place in broad daylight, was witnessed by members of the public, including children, and the police were alerted by a local resident who reported seeing three men beating up another man.

Before the court were: Gerson Assuncao, 22, of Burrell Road, Ipswich; Matas Vaitekunas, 20, of Victoria Street, Ipswich; Bobby Walters, 26, of Victoria Street, Ipswich; Michael Crumlish, 27, of Southgreen Gardens, Clacton-on-Sea; Ethan Smith, 22, of Cardiff Avenue, Ipswich, and three 17-year-olds. 

One of the 17-year-olds admitted wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.

Assuncao admitted being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, affray, possessing a knife, possessing cannabis with intent to supply and possessing criminal property.

Smith admitted being involved in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs while Vaitekunas admitted being involved in the supply of class A and B drugs, affray and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

One of the 17-year-old youths and Walters admitted affray while Crumlish admitted having an offensive weapon, namely a machete in a public place and affray.

Another of the 17-year-olds admitted being concerned in the supply of class A and Class B drugs and affray.

Mr O’Donnell said that in December 2021 police went to Assuncao’s flat in Bond Street, Ipswich and discovered a tub of herbal cannabis, £400 cash and high value clothing, trainers and electrical goods.

On August 23 last year police officers went to a property in Burrell Road, Ipswich and arrested Assuncao after finding a machete, bags of cannabis and a burner phone containing messages relating to the supply of cocaine and cannabis.

Barnaby Shaw representing one of the 17-year-old's said he was ashamed and embarrassed about the stabbing and hadn’t armed himself with the machete with the intention of attacking the victim.

Peter Spary for Assuncao said his client had been in custody since August last year.

Gareth Hughes for Crumlish said his client’s offences weren’t gang or drug related and were connected to him seeing Walter’s girlfriend.

He said he had “stupidly” taken the machete to Maple Park.

Simon Connolly for Vaitekunas said his client’s mental health issues had been exacerbated by his use of drugs and he had got involved in drug dealing to feed his own habit.

Simon Gladwell for Smith said he had been in custody since June and was keen to make a fresh start when he was released.

Judge Martyn Levett adjourned sentence on all defendants until Tuesday (April 18).