Man who helped wanted brother flee UK jailed

A man found guilty of perverting the course of justice by helping his wanted brother skip bail and flee the UK has been given a three-and-a-half-year jail term.

Erion Bytyci, 28, of Manor Road, Luton, was jailed by a judge at Luton Crown Court on Friday after being convicted by jurors in November, following a trial.

His brother, Nardi Bytyci, 23, had been charged with attempted murder after a number of people were injured when a car was driven into a crowd outside the Kumba Lounge nightclub in Chapel Street, Luton, in April 2025.

Jurors at Erion's trial were told that Nardi, of Fanshawe Avenue, Barking, east London, had disappeared and was thought to be abroad.

Judge Allison Hunter said Erion had helped to organise a passport and make arrangements with a lorry driver travelling to France.

She told the sentencing hearing on Friday: "Public confidence is harmed when offenders can evade justice."

Prosecution barrister Martyn Bowyer had told jurors how Nardi, who was also charged with drink driving, had been granted bail by magistrates in Luton days after being arrested.

He said magistrates had imposed conditions and ordered Nardi to live in Barking, report daily to a police station, and hand his passport to police.

But he said Nardi had "skipped bail" and "evaded justice".

A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) told the BBC that a prosecution lawyer had asked magistrates to remand Nardi in custody.

Bedfordshire Police has urged anyone with information about Nardi's whereabouts to get in touch.

Bowyer had told Erion's trial that a Fiat 500 had been driven into a crowd outside the Kumba Lounge at about 03:30 BST on 5 April, leaving people with "life-threatening" injuries.

Nardi, the car driver, was detained at the scene by members of the public until police arrived, jurors heard.

Jurors were told that by the morning of Wednesday, 9 April, two days after magistrates granted bail, Nardi was in France.

Bowyer said evidence indicated that Erion had helped his brother.

He said mobile phone data showed the two brothers, both "Albanian nationals", were together on 8 April.

Nardi had also messaged his brother to say he was on a ferry sailing from Dover, Kent.

Erion, who denied perverting the course of justice, told jurors that he had "nothing to do" with his brother going missing.

He said he had driven his brother to a pub in Dover - but had not helped him leave the country.

"The last time I saw him was when I dropped him off at the pub," he told jurors.

"I have got nothing to do with my brother - him leaving the country."

Erion, who was remanded in custody after being charged, said he could not be "responsible" for what his brother did.

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