'Dangerous' Leeds gang members jailed for 27 years for gun and machete attack on Airbnb house party
A masked gang who terrified party revellers by firing a pistol at a property while brandishing machetes have been jailed for more than 27 years.
Jacob Lindo, Nehemiah Elenge and Emanuel Yeboah were part of a five-strong group that attacked the house on Burnby Close in Seacroft.
Lindo, 19, was found guilty after a trial at Leeds Crown Court of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Elenge, 20, pleaded guilty to the offence two hours into his trial. Meanwhile, 24-year-old Yeboah admitted the charge at an earlier hearing.
He had been the driver that night and also admitted to police about being tied to a gang.
Jailing them, Judge Tom Bayliss KC said: “I’m completely sure it was gang-related violence - what other purpose could there be for such an attack?
“It was designed to intimidate and strike fear into your rivals.
“It was a very frightening incident, apparent from the reaction of those present.
“The public is entitled to expect the courts to protect young people who engage in such behaviour.”
He deemed that all three were dangerous criminals, handing them extended sentences.
Lindo was given a 10-year extended sentence, Elenge handed nine years and three months and Yeboah given eight years and seven months.
They appeared in court over a video link from prison, having been held on remand.
During the trial, prosecutor Andrew Espley said that the targeted house was an Airbnb property available for rent.
Shortly after 1.30am on April 12 last year, the BMW containing the gang members wearing face coverings arrived outside. Four got out carrying machetes and a pistol.
A party was in full swing, although during the trial it was heard it was unknown who had rented the property that night and why a gang turned up to confront them.
However, the incident was caught on CCTV and played to the jury, showing one of the men smashing a window with a machete, before the gun was fired at another window, causing it to smash.
The men then got back into the BMW and drove off at speed.
The projectile from the gun was found to be a ball bearing, fired from a converted blank-firing pistol. It was found lodged in an upstairs window.
The DNA of Yeboah, of Foundry Approach, Harehills, was found on the ball bearing.
A witness living nearby and who heard screaming from the scene had noted the registration plate of the BMW, which was traced back to Yeboah.
Having seized the vehicle, police found a blood stain in the car from which the DNA matched Elenge.
He had maintained his innocence, but just after Mr Espley had opened the Crown’s case during the trial in October last year, Elenge, of Hamilton Avenue, Chapeltown, changed his plea to guilty.
During the trial it was heard that phone messages and phone mast data was able to help pinpoint the defendant’s whereabouts.
It showed Yeboah had picked the other two defendants up from Lindo’s address on Coldcotes Drive, in Gipton.
Mr Espley said they were intent on going to Burnby Close to “frighten the life out of anybody at the party”.
Mitigating for Elenge, Imran Khan said he was still a young man with no previous convictions and had expressed remorse for becoming involved.
For Yeboah, Glenn Parsons pointed to his young age and that he accepted it was his own fault for becoming involved.
Little mitigation could be offered on behalf of Lindo, who maintained his innocence throughout.
Judge Bayliss said it mattered little who pulled the trigger because it had been a “joint venture”.
He gave Lindo a seven-year custodial sentence with a three-year extended licence period.
Elenge was given six years and three months custody, with Yeboah receiving five years and seven months. They were also each given with a three-year extended licence period.
Speaking after sentencing, Detective Inspector Phil Hughes, senior investigating officer, said: “These men's actions that morning put lives at risk.
“Any use of a firearm is unacceptable but discharging a firearm at an occupied property is reckless and dangerous and is behaviour that has no place in our society.
“We will relentlessly pursue those responsible for firearms-enabled offending, building up the evidence to ensure they are put before the courts, seeking custodial sentences to safeguard our communities.”