Masked gang threatened man with weapons at his home in Leeds during feud over girlfriend

Christopher Morris and two other men turned up at the property in Armley carrying an axe, a bat and a bannister rail.

Leeds Crown Court heard Morris and the victim had been friends but fell out over rumours he had slept with a woman the defendant had been seeing.

Michael Smith, prosecuting, said the incident happened on May 20 this year at 5pm.

Morris and two men turned up at the victim's home in a car and approached the property.

The two other men were wearing masks but Morris did not have his face covered.

Morris used the length of wood he was carrying to smash a glass door panel.

The defendant said to the man: "Why have you slept with her? Just tell me. Why have you done this to me?"

The two other men then went to the victim's motorbike, which was parked outside, and began to interfere with it.

The victim went outside to try to stop them but one of the men threatened to stab him.

Morris then said to the victim: "Please tell me if you have slept with her. I am your friend."

The incident was witnessed by other members of the public.

Morris and the two men then left the scene and police were contacted.

Officers later recovered a knife and a pick axe handle from the vehicle they had been travelling in.

Morris, 51, of Arley Terrace, Armley, pleaded guilty to affray, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon.

He was the subject of a suspended prison sentence at the time of the incident.

Stuart Field, mitigating, said Morris pleaded guilty to the offence at an early stage.

Morris was jailed for 16 months.

Sentencing, Judge Christopher said: "For whatever reason you had a dispute/disagreement with someone who was a friend of yours once upon a time.

"As a result of that disagreement you attended his property with two others who wore masks.

"The three of you were armed with weapons and you did so in order to intimidate (the victim) and frighten the life out of him.

"The reality was you succeeded in that."

The judge continued: "A number of people were around to witness what must have been a terrifying scene.

"Only a sentence of immediate custody can be justified."