Teens attacked Leeds resident with machete after he came out to investigate noise
Judge warned culprits their actions could have been “utterly catastrophic”
A resident who confronted three teenagers loitering on a Leeds street was brutally assaulted with a machete.
The man was left with a fractured skull and bleeding heavily with the bone exposed after being struck by the fearsome weapon.
Charlie Clarke and Sol Garnett-Kotia were later identified as two of the three suspects. They were both 16 at the time, Leeds Crown Court heard.
Both now 19, they admitted Section 20 GBH without intent on the day they were due to stand trial.
The court heard that the victim had been at home on Fieldhouse Drive in Moortown on the evening of July 4, 2023, when he heard arguing from outside.
Thinking his neighbour was in trouble, he went outside to investigate.
He found three teenagers, who had face coverings and hoods up. He later told police that one lifted his top up to display a shiny item on his trousers. It was unknown if it was a knife or machete.
Asking what was going on, two of the group stood in front of him and were aggressive.
The victim had little recollection what took place next and only remembers waking up covered in blood.
One had struck him to the face and he was kicked to the body as he was on the floor, prosecutor Chloe Hudson told the court.
His partner was screaming for someone to call 999, shouting that he was “bleeding to death”.
The man was taken to Leeds General Infirmary where he was found to have a fractured skull and cheek bone. The skull injury had left the bone exposed with a 10cm-long cut.
CCTV was reviewed and showed the gang kicking and stamping on the man.
Both Clarke and Garnett-Kotia were identified and arrested a day later. The shoes of Garnett-Kotia were forensically examined and found to contain traces of the victim’s blood.
Clarke’s phone was examined and he had sent a message asking a friend to look after the clothes he was wearing during the attack.
Both were later identified in a police parade.
Ms Hudson said it was unclear what weapon had been used, but Judge Robin Mairs said: “This was a machete or a bladed weapon of some sort.”
Clarke, of Lingfield Road, Moortown, has previous convictions for affray, drugs and theft.
Garnett-Kotia, of Stonegate Road, Moortown, has no previous convictions.
No mitigation was offered by either teenagers’ barristers after Judge Mairs said he would not lock them up.
He took into account their young age at the time and that neither had been trouble since.
He told them: “A machete was clearly used, anyone can see that.
“It was a cowardly attack, three upon one.
“The results could have been utterly catastrophic, you could have faced spending a long time in custody and a life licence.”
Clarke was given 16 months’ jail, suspended for 18 months, with 150 hours of unpaid work and a probation requirement.
Garnett-Kotia was given 13 months, suspended for 18 months, also with 150 hours of work and a probation requirement.