Teen involved in Leeds-house machete attack following Facebook comments is jailed
Young man given custody despite court delay
A teenager who sought revenge over comments allegedly made over Facebook has been jailed for a terrifying machete attack.
Mustang Howard was with a gang who went to a man’s home and tried to stab at him through his door as he fought to keep them out.
Howard was only 17 at the time, Leeds Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Samuel Ponniah said Howard was unhappy about the alleged comments on social media about him and his partner losing their baby.
On the night of February 2, 2024, he rang the man, who was a former friend, and told him he was coming to his home to “do him in”.
The victim later said he recognised it as the voice of Howard.
A short time later, Mustang turned up with others at the house of multiple occupancy on Nowell Place in Harehills.
CCTV footage showed several females entering the property and bang on the door of the victim’s room, before two males joined them - Howard and Joshua Spruce.
Howard was wearing a face mask and Spruce was then seen to pull the machete from the waistband of Howard’s trousers and swing it around through the gap in the door as the victim desperately tried to keep it shut.
They then fled. Spruce was jailed in July 2024 for his part.
Howard, of Manor Road Farm, Middleton, later admitted aggravated burglary.
Mitigating, Sean Smith said Howard, who is now 19, had stayed out of trouble since then and had no previous convictions.
He questioned the delay in bringing the case against him to court, given that the victim recognised his voice on the phone.
As a result, he said the prison sentence had been hanging over him since then.
Judge Neil Clark acknowledged the delay, but said it had to be custody.
He ordered Howard to serve three years and six months in a young offender institute.