Machetes brandished during gang's Wakefield street violence
Members of the public looked on during terrifying incident
A teenager was among a group of four involved in an affray in Wakefield when machetes were brandished in broad daylight, a court heard.
Police were called to Jacobs Well Lane after members of the public reported a group of men wielding machetes just before 3.30pm on April 5 2024, Leeds Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor David Ward said when police arrived the men had left the scene and CCTV footage was examined.
The court heard four men could be seen on the footage gesturing at a pick -up truck.
Mr Ward said after the truck did a U-turn, two of the men pulled large knives from their rucksacks and a third threw a wheelie bin at the truck's windscreen.
Mr Ward said: "All this happened in broad daylight and members of the public saw it and reported it."
The court heard Cameron Salih - who was aged 18 at the time - was identified from CCTV footage as one of the four men.
Mr Ward said: "He was interviewed. He couldn't explain why he was chasing after the vehicle."
He said he had just come from his father's barbershop.
He said he was in fear of the vehicle. It could easily have gone into the shop."
A probation officer told the court: "He was at his dad's barbershop. The other individuals were his friends. He does say he was not involved in the same way his friends were."
She added: "He was in the middle of it but not really aware of why. He does say there was some issue between them with the pick-up truck."
The court heard Salih, who has no previous convictions, moved to Northern Ireland in June and lives there with his girlfriend.
Salih, now aged 20, of Bloomfield Avenue, Ballyhackamore, Belfast, admitted affray.
Judge Simon Batiste said: "I'm still not clear what the real cause of this was.
“There was a pick-up truck driving through the street where you were and you and three friends clearly took offence to that vehicle and there was some degree of animosity that existed between you and the driver."
“It's clear the truck was driving backwards and forwards at great speed down the road and you and your colleagues were gesturing at the vehicle.
"One of them threw a wheelie bin at the vehicle. The other two produced machetes from their rucksacks.
"You didn't appear to have any weapons and your involvement appears to be the least of the four of you."
Judge Batiste said the two men with the machetes previously received suspended prison sentences and the man who threw the bin received a community order.
Judge Batiste told Salih: "You were partly responsible for the behaviour of the joint enterprise that was taking place but you did not have a weapon."
Judge Batiste sentenced Salih to a 12-month community order with 60 hours of unpaid work.