Masked gang 'attacked Stafford home with hockey sticks in drugs row'

The terrified couple inside barricaded the door as the attack on the property, in Stafford, continued.

Police rushed to the scene on Greensome Close, Doxey, onJune 3 last year and stopped a Vauxhall Vectra driving away, Miss Balvinder Bhatti, prosecuting, told Stafford Crown Court.

Officers found two hockey sticks and splinters of broken glass in the boot, balaclavas in the glove box and the four people inside the car, were arrested.

All of them were initially charged with attempted robbery, but later admitted an offence of affray.

The ringleader, a 17 year old youth, who cannot be named was made subject to a youth rehabilitation order.

Miss Bhatti said the youth and a co-accused, Benjamin Miles were the ones smashing the windows and the glass panel of the front door with the hockey sticks.

Miles, aged 18, of Johnson Street, Wolverhampton was sent to youth custody for eight months.

Another co-accused, Cameron Green, aged 23, of Kirkstall Avenue, Stafford was given an eight month jail sentence suspended for a year, ordered to do 250 hours unpaid community work and pay £100 compensation.

The driver of the Vectra, Christian Cooke, aged 22, of Cole Drive, Stafford got a 12 month community order with 180 hours of unpaid community work and £100 compensation to pay.

Recorder Ms Tina Landale told them: "A man at home, seeing a group outside carrying hockey sticks, wearing disguises, smashing the glass of doors and windows, terrifying him and his girlfriend - you were all caught red handed."

She told the teenager: "you were the ringleader, this was your argument, you planned this affray. Miles - you have shown no remorse whatsoever."

In a basis of plea, the teenager said he had bought some cannabis which turned out to be bad quality and was refused a refund so he smashed the windows in retribution.

Miles admitted smashing windows and that he knew the teenager had a problem with the occupier, however Green said he had no knowledge of the householder and thought they were just going to frighten him.

Cooke said he had been asked to stop his car outside an address in Doxey where the teenager said he was owed some money. He went with the others and was present when a heated argument broke out, but added "I didn't want any more to do with it. I haven't experienced anything like this."

Mr Jason Holt, for Cooke, told the judge: "He's been taken advantage of by others. He had the means of transport and he's been used. When the incident began to unravel, he moved away from it and went back to his car and, out of misplaced loyalty, stayed there."

Mr Paul Hiatt, for Green, said his client used to play football for Stafford Town and wanted to get back in to the game as a coach. He had apologised for his actions.