Basildon twin brothers jailed for Festival Leisure stabbing

Twin brothers, Jason and Jamie Gittens, have been jailed after they stabbed a man at Basildon’s Festival Leisure Park.

The twenty-six-year-old brothers were each jailed for 10 years for stabbing a man.

Jason and Jamie were with a friend on a night out at Unit 7 nightclub, Festival Leisure Park, Basildon, on Friday 13 March, when Jason became involved in an altercation with a group of men inside the nightclub. 

At the end of the evening, Jason and his friend were confronted by the same group when they left the nightclub and a fight broke out. Jason walked away and armed himself with a metal pole before a security patrol stopped him and took it off him. 

Shortly after, Jamie’s friend returned to the scene with twin brother, Jason.

Jason charged the group and a second fight broke out during which, Jason lunged forward and stabbed a man in the mouth. After the man collapsed and fell face to the ground, Jamie twice stabbed him in the back.

Jamie and Jason both ran off but were arrested in the vicinity minutes later.

The stabbing was caught on CCTV.

Jason Gittens, 26 of St. Edmunds Way, Harlow and Jamie Gittens, 26 of no fixed abode, were each charged with Section 18 – wounding with intent and further charged with possession of a knife or bladed article in a public place. 

Both brothers were remanded in custody to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Monday 16 March. 

The Gittens brothers both pleaded guilty and were sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Monday 14 December.

Jason Gittens, and his twin brother, Jamie Gittens, were each found guilty of both charges and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, to serve 5 years on licence for wounding with intent. Jason Gittens was also fined £181 victim surcharge.

They were each further sentenced to 6 years imprisonment to run concurrent for the knife charges. 

PC Heather Wren investigating, said: “The victim and his family’s suffering have been recognised by the court taking a tough stance on knife-related crime. The sentencing should serve as a deterrent to those who choose to carry knives and shows what can happen to those around you when you do. I encourage those who are unlawfully carrying a knife to think twice before going out in public with one, and to surrender any knives by using the knife bins outside the police station.”