FOUR gang members who fought on a busy street armed with poles, bats and axes in a Tamil turf war were convicted of serious violent offences. The Old Bailey heard how DMX members Arulmurugan Sepamalai, 22, of Chapman Crescent, Kenton, and Iynkaran Tharmal

FOUR gang members who fought on a busy street armed with poles, bats and axes in a Tamil turf war were convicted of serious violent offences.

The Old Bailey heard how DMX members Arulmurugan Sepamalai, 22, of Chapman Crescent, Kenton, and Iynkaran Tharmalingam, 24, of Sudbury Heights Avenue, Sudbury, clashed with Harrow Gang rival Vakeesan Paramalingam, 27 and his 30-year-old brother Pratheepan, in Lancelot Road, Wembley, last August.

Vakeesan was battered repeatedly across the head with a cricket bat when he was cornered by Sepamalai.

The onslaught was only halted when fellow gang members pulled Sepamalai away from the fight. Prosecutor Roger Smart said: "Members of the DMX gang saw members of the Harrow Gang on their turf. There was a fight, during which metal poles, kitchen knives, pickaxes, cricket bats and pickaxe handles were used to cause serious injury to members of both gangs."

Sepamalai is captured on CCTV footage beating Keesan Paramalingam six times across the head.

Tharmalingam was armed with a 3ft metal pole during the fight and police officers who rushed to the scene saw a gang member toss a knife under a parked van.

Vakeesan needed hospital treatment for bruising and cuts to his head and temple, as well as multiple fractures to his jaw, cheekbone and eye socket.

Judge Peter Thornton said: "This was serious violence and would have made anybody standing nearby very distressed."

Sepamalai was jailed for seven years, Tharmarlingham three years and Vakeesan Paramalingham four years.

All three were convicted of a number of violent offences.

Pratheepan was convicted of violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon - a bottle. He will be sentenced at a later date.