Row over bad parking in Nottingham ends in stabbing with broken golf club

An argument over inconsiderate parking at a Nottingham industrial estate ended with a mass brawl during which one man was stabbed in the back with a broken golf club. Nottingham Crown Court heard how Puiu Burdulea and Vasile Raducan armed themselves with weapons while a third man Ciprian Burdulea also waded in on the rival gang.

Three victims from the other group were left with injuries in the assaults which were witnessed by shocked onlookers, including a child. And had the trio just walked away from an argument which was not theirs in the first place, a judge said, they would not have suspended sentences hanging over them.

Judge Andrew Smith said: “Puiu Burdulea, you became involved in the incident which massively escalated. You ran over armed with a hammer and a golf club believing your partner was in need of protection but by the time you got there it was clear you were not needed.

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“You could have calmed down and walked away and none of you would be here in the dock today. But you threw the hammer. Vasile Raducan, you armed yourself with a hammer and an umbrella, swinging the umbrella around making contact with people.

“Ciprian Burdulea, you then came into the incident and got involved although I accept you did not have any weapon. There was a child there, there were people watching, it was an extremely frightening incident for anyone that was involved.

“One man ended up with glass in his eye from a broken window, another had a puncture wound in his back having been jabbed with a broken golf club and a third victim had bruising and cuts. You are all old enough not to be involved in brawling like this” Luc Chignell, prosecuting, said the incident took place in Elson Street, Basford, on March 8, 2023.

He said Puiu Burdulea’s partner worked at one firm on the estate and another unit was occupied by a firm which carries out car repair.

The prosecutor said an argument began between her and one of the men at the other firm over how a car was parked and the three defendants all became involved in the brawl, getting the better of the other group of men.

All three of them were arrested and later pleaded guilty to affray. Puiu Burdulea, 49, of Broom Walk, Carlton, was handed a nine-month jail term, suspended for a year, with 15 rehabilitation sessions and 120 hours unpaid work. He must also pay the man he attacked £500 compensation.

Raducan, a 46-year-old delivery driver of no fixed address, was handed a nine-month jail term, suspended for a year, with 150 hours unpaid work. He too must also pay the man he attacked £500 compensation.

And Ciprian Burdulea, 36, of Honeywood Drive, Carlton, was handed a six-month jail term, suspended for a year, with 10 rehabilitation sessions and 100 hours unpaid work. He was ordered to pay the man he attacked £300 compensation.

Judge Smith said: “I don’t expect to see any of you back before me again.”