'I really do not want to see you again': Teenager who sliced men with machete on his 18th birthday spared custodial sentence

Scott Bird took out the weapon without warning and attacked the victims during the terrifying incident on Lincoln Green Road.

The victims had to undergo surgery after being sliced with the weapon in the attack on December 1, 2018.

Details of the offences were heard at Leeds Crown Court when Bird was initially due to be sentenced in July last year.A judge deferred passing sentence on the defendant after hearing how Bird had managed to turn his life around since the incident and was considered a '"role model" to others

Bird, of Grange View, Chapeltown, pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful wounding, possession of an offensive and supplying a class B drug.

Bird returned to court yesterday (January 12) and was given a 16-month sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He was also made the subject of a curfew for four months.

Judge Christopher Batty said: "I really do not want to see you again.

"I take the view that you have turned a corner with help from people who think a lot about you.

"This is an exceptional course I am taking but one I take the view is very much worth taking."

He was shoulder barged from behind as a group of men walked past him.

Bird was among the group and they then headed towards shops on Lincoln Green Road.

One of the men was heard to say: "I'm p***** off. I've lost all my money."

The group then approached the second victim.

The first victim knew the other man and went to help as he sensed trouble.

Bird took a machete from his trousers and made threats with the weapon.

He returned the machete to his trousers but took it out again and raised it above his head.

The teenager swung the blade towards one of the men.

He was stuck on the arm as he tried to defend himself.

Bird then swung the machete at the second victim several times, causing serious cuts to his hand.

Both victims had to undergo operations.

One suffered a 15cm cut to his forearm, elbow and wrist,

The other man had to undergo plastic surgery to the wounds to his hand.

The injuries affected their ability to work.

Bird was arrested at his home and admitted taking cocaine, spice and alcohol before the attack for his 18th birthday.

The court heard Bird was arrested for dealing spice in June 2018.

He was stopped by officers in Leeds city centre on suspicion of dealing the drug.

The teenager was searched and the class B drug was found in his possession.

Text messages were found on his phone which contained text messages giving instructions to Bird from other dealers higher up the supply chain.

Michael Walsh, mitigating, said Bird had been out of trouble during the two years it had taken the case to come to court.

Mr Walsh said the defendant had not touched drugs or alcohol since the incident and had worked hard to turn his life around.

The court heard Bird had been receiving support from the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and hoped to play rugby league at a high level.

Mr Walsh said: "He has made remarkable progress. If he fails he will only have himself to blame and will be back in prison."