Belt-Wielding Thug Sent Down After Violent Department Store Brawl
Charlie Golding sparked chaos after a vicious clash with a rival gang inside a department store on St George’s Street on September 1, 2021.
Chase Ends in Brutal Belt Attack on Canterbury High Street
Following the heated row, Golding led his crew out of the store and pursued the rivals down the High Street towards Westgate Towers.
CCTV footage captured Golding swinging a belt, striking one victim square in the face. Other gang members were also spotted brandishing parts of chairs and bottles during the chase. However, Golding was the only one seen delivering an attack.
Young Offender Gets 20 Months Plus Extra for Past Violent Crime
Police arrested Golding the very next day. He later admitted to violent disorder in court.
At Canterbury Crown Court on February 3, 2022, the former Kemsing Gardens resident was sentenced to 20 months in a young offenders’ institution for this violent episode.
The judge also scrapped a previous Youth Rehabilitation Order linked to a 2019 violent disorder offence in Canterbury, replacing it with a 12-month consecutive detention order.
This means Golding’s total jail time now stands at two years and eight months.
Past Violence Left Victim With Life-Changing Injuries
The 2019 incident saw a 17-year-old suffer serious, life-altering wounds during a fight in Rose Lane. Golding admitted involvement leading up to the assault, but denied participating in the attack itself.
“There is absolutely no place for this kind of mindless violence in Canterbury, or anywhere else in Kent,” said PC Georgia England, the Kent Police officer investigating the latest offence.
“Kent Police takes assaults and anti-social behaviour very seriously and will always work to bring those responsible before the courts. I am pleased this violent offender has now been jailed and is no longer able to bring such shameful scenes to the streets of the city.”
