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Selwood clan from Maidstone and Snodland locked up for Christmas

00:00, 10 December 2017

updated: 14:40, 10 December 2017

Neighbours were said to be celebrating this week after all-but-one of Britain’s “worst” family were locked up for Christmas.

Darren Selwood, 34, was the last to be sent to jail after being handed a 15-month sentence at Maidstone Crown Court for stabbing a friend who asked to share his steak dinner.

His younger brother Lee, 31, and mum Lesley were both sent to prison for affray three weeks ago.

Mum Lesley Selwood serving six months for affray. Picture: Facebook
Mum Lesley Selwood serving six months for affray. Picture: Facebook

Darren’s other brother Jason Selwood, 33, who went to the Malling School is already serving a six-year stretch for blowing up a cash machine with gas canisters in a bid to steal £19,000.

It is understood Mrs Selwood, a 54-year-old grandmother from Snodland is serving her time at HMP Bronzefield in Staines while the three sons are at Her Majesty's pleasure on the Isle of Sheppey.

Neighbours said they had endured years of violence, binge-drinking and anti-social behaviour and likened the Selwoods to the lawless Gallagher family in the Channel 4 TV series Shameless, according to today’s Sunday People.

Shameless: Neighbours say the Selwood;s are like Channel 4's Gallagher family in the TV series Shameless. Picture: Channel 4
Shameless: Neighbours say the Selwood;s are like Channel 4's Gallagher family in the TV series Shameless. Picture: Channel 4

A mother-of-two who lives in the same street as Mrs Selwood said: “We are planning to have an estate party to celebrate them being locked up. Everyone on the street is delighted.”

The court heard last month that Darren of Edna Road, Maidstone, refused to share his steak at a party in Turner Road, Tonbridge in July and instead stabbed his friend Patrick Boylan in the stomach with a steak knife.

He had 17 previous convictions for 27 offences. His longest prison stay was for five-and-a-half years in 2008 for grievous bodily harm after stamping on a man's head which left the victim brain damaged.

Thug: Darren Selwood, 34, was the lates of the Selwood clan to be jailed after being handed a 15-month sentence at Maidstone Crown Court for stabbing a friend who asked to share his steak dinner. Picture: Facebook
Thug: Darren Selwood, 34, was the lates of the Selwood clan to be jailed after being handed a 15-month sentence at Maidstone Crown Court for stabbing a friend who asked to share his steak dinner. Picture: Facebook

In 2014, he was jailed for three years after knocking out a teenage girl clubber, fracturing her eye socket, at a nightspot in Tunbridge Wells.

Only Mrs Selwood’s daughter Kelly, 29, remains free for the festive season although she has a conviction for assault after squirting toilet cleaner over a neighbour during a row about her loud music.

Maidstone magistrates gave her a 12-month conditional discharge in 2010.

Jason Selwood, 33, is already serving a six-year stretch for blowing up a cash machine with gas canisters in a bid to steal £19,000. Picture: Facebook
Jason Selwood, 33, is already serving a six-year stretch for blowing up a cash machine with gas canisters in a bid to steal £19,000. Picture: Facebook

The mother-of-three told the paper her family was being treated unfairly. She said: “It's very hard. They aren't even allowed presents. They need to be cut some slack - it's Christmas.”

But their aunt Teresa Cole, 51, had little sympathy.

She told the Sunday People: “They are feral scumbags, scum of the earth. I hate them with a passion, they are animals.

“I am delighted to see they are behind bars - Merry Christmas to them all.

Lee Selwood, 31. Serving 13 months for affray. Picture: Facebook
Lee Selwood, 31. Serving 13 months for affray. Picture: Facebook

“They are the neighbours from hell. They upset everyone and they think they are superior to everyone else.

“They slashed our tyres and smashed bricks through our window for no reason.

“I had to board planks over the windows to stop the bricks from coming in.”

“It’s bred into them to be violent.”

In 2013 Darren, Lee and Lesley were locked up for launching a vicious joint attack on one of their neighbours after a car was torched in Chatham. Mother Lesley joined in with a trampoline pole.

Mrs Selwood and her son Lee have since re-offended and are back in jail for fighting in public after being sentenced on November 18.

Lee was given 13 months and his mum was jailed for six months.

Lesley’s husband Robert, the boys’ father, died 12 years ago.

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