Two jailed over gun and machete attack in Walsall

Sultan Khan and Shabir Ali had armed themselves with weapons after members of a rival gang had attacked them and ‘smashed up’ their father’s car, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Police were called to the scene by eye witnesses but the two defendants said they did not want to make a complaint about what had happened in the incident on July 23.

An hour later they were still in Gladstone Street, Walsall, when a group which included Arbaaz Hussain, whose brother had allegedly led the vandal attack on the vehicle, returned to the scene, said Mrs Marion Smullen, prosecuting.

Mr Hussain, who had not been involved in the earlier disturbance, was shot in the face with a BB gun during the violence that followed.

The metal ball lodged in his left eye and needed an operation to remove it.

He also needed five stitches in a head wound inflicted with a machete.

Khan had the machete and Ali was armed with the gun during the clash, the court heard.

Mrs Smullen said: “This was a group attack but there is an extremely long history to this dispute during which there have been events involving both sides.”

Mr Balbir Singh, representing Khan said the feud dated back to May last year.

He alleged that Mr Hussain’s brother had been at the forefront of trouble and intimidation targeted at the two defendants and their family.

He said the victim walked towards Khan and Ali who had armed themselves and remained close to their home in case members of the rival group returned.

Mr David Iles, defending Ali, who had no previous convictions, said the family had been repeatedly goaded by their rivals but this time got the better of them.

Ali and Khan, both of Bloxwich Road, Walsall, each pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and the latter further admitted possession of a machete.

Khan was jailed for three years two months while Ali was locked up for two years.