Teen broke man's leg with wooden pole as violent gang caused 'mayhem' when they ran amok during Yorkshire village cricket match

Members of the gang armed themselves with gardening tools from the garage at Linthwaite Cricket Club before using them to attack players as children wept in fear.

Leeds Crown Court heard one man suffered a broken leg as he was attacked with a wooden pole during the incident at the ground in Huddersfield on August 3, 2019.

Violent offender Cameron Norbury, 18, was given the lengthy sentence after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, affray and possessing an offensive weapon.

The violence went on for around 20 minutes and involved around 10 boys and two teenage girls.

Two of the teenage boys pulled out knives during the trouble and one had a baseball bat.

Some teenagers armed themselves with the club's own pitchforks and spades.

Members of the gang also got hold of cricket stumps and made threats with them.

The game had to be abandoned.

Four cricketers were hospitalised.

The incident happened during a first team game between Linthwaite and Kirkheaton.

Norbury armed himself with a wooden pole and swung it at man who tried to intervene, breaking his leg.

A club member provided a victim statement to the court describing how members were fearful of returning to play cricket matches after the incident.

He said: "Due to what happened we were not able to carry on with the match.

"I am so shocked a what happened and even more so about the attitudes of these youths.

"It was a family game. Children were crying."

He appeared in court via a video link from a young offender institution where he is currently serving a sentence for previous violent offences.

Judge Christopher Batty ordered that the four-year sentence be consecutive to the sentence he is already serving.

He told Norbury: "Causing public order mayhem is what you have been about.

"On this day you just wanted a fight.

"You were drunk and full of drugs of some sort and you decided to pick on cricketers at a family cricket match at Linthwaite Cricket Club.

"You went deliberately to one of the people watching the game in order that you could set about them.

"You were two days away from appearing at the Crown court at that time for really serious offences.

"And there you were, looking for trouble and dishing it out. It was only ever an attempt to produce a violent confrontation.

"You threw a punch and others joined in.

"Others in your group entered the cricket club garage, arming themselves with gardening tools and a fork.

"It is probably where you got the wooden pole from.

The judge added: "People were punched and kicked repeatedly while they were on the floor.

"They were people just trying to enjoy a game of cricket.

"A lot of people had children with them at the time who will probably never forget what they witnessed on that Saturday afternoon.

"Your record is appalling for one so young. Serious violence seems to be second nature to you."