Weapons gang pair from Burnley escape jail after police stop van in Nelson

Burnley Crown Court heard how Khalil Raja (21) was said to have been brandishing a golf club while Ateeb Younis (20) had turned to face an officer with a wheel brace and clenched his fist after police stopped a van in Barkerhouse Road, Nelson.

The pair both admitted possessing an offensive weapon. Raja also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis. Raja, of Rawson Street, Burnley, was given a 12-month community order with 140 hours’ work and Younis, of Cross Street, Brierfield, got a 12-month community order with 100 hours’ work.

Sentencing them, Recorder Nigel Grundy said the offences were serious and the weapons had the potential to cause injury. He told the pair: “It would have been open to me to pass a custodial sentence in both your cases.”

Mr Julian Taylor (prosecuting) said, on May 25th, a number of police officers were driving along Barkerhouse Road, when they saw a white van driving slowly towards the town centre.

It stopped outside a Chinese takeaway and six men ran from nearby and got into the back, two of them with weapons which looked like metal bars. Eight men were in the back of the van. Officers stopped it and the defendants ran out.

Mr Taylor said Raja was brandishing a golf club and was disarmed and arrested. Younis turned to face an officer with the wheel brace. Both defendants were taken to the police station.

Younis claimed he had picked up the wheel brace while in the van and claimed an officer had threatened to pepper spray him.

He said he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Younis had no previous convictions and Raja had a record for assault, possessing cannabis and breaching court orders.

Miss Zoe Nield (defending Younis) said the weapon was not used for violence or to threaten violence. The offence was entirely out of character.

Miss Katherine Pierpoint (defending Raja) said he was immature, easily swayed and had been caught up in the excitement of others.

She added: “He knows he has been stupid. He knows he has acted irresponsibly.

“The time has come, and he appreciates it, to grow up.”