'I'll slice you up': Machete-wielding thugs terrify mum as they threaten to stab her kids

Both pleaded guilty to two charges of affray on September 3 and 21 last year.

The court heard the first incident involved the pair chasing a man at Sandhurst Meadows in Shrewsbury – with Aston riding a moped and Buckley on a bicycle – swinging a large machete and a 'Rambo-style knife' at the man.

The court was told there was "some background" between the defendants and their target, but no details were revealed.

Myles Wilson, prosecuting, said the man had run into his mother's property, locking a garden gate while the weapons had been swung within a metre of him as he tried to escape.

The court heard that the victim's mother had gone out to try and "defuse" the situation, but both Buckley and Aston had waved the weapons at her.

During an exchange that lasted anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes they called her "a slag", and told her to "get your child out or I will slice you up".

The pair also threatened to stab her and her other children, before saying that if she gave up her son they would "leave her alone".

Both were arrested after the incident and were bailed by police following interviews – with a number of conditions, including not to associate with each other.

But, Mr Wilson explained that on September 21 they had been together close to a Indian restaurant on Whitchurch Road in the town.

A man was present at the restaurant with his family and had gone outside for a cigarette.

The court heard that Buckley and Aston had recognised him as someone living on the same road as the victims from the September 3 incident.

Mr Wilson said they had mistakenly believed he had given a statement to the police about that incident and called him "a grass".

Both men produced weapons, described as 'foot-and-a-half' long machetes.

Mr Wilson said they had swung the blades at the man, within 30cms, and also waved them at his 12-year-old daughter who was with him.

The court heard the incident ended when other residents came out and told the defendants the police were on the way.

Debra White, mitigating for Buckley, of Whitchurch Road, Shrewsbury, was he remorseful over his actions and urged Judge Laura Hobson not to sent him to jail.

She said that working with the probation service on a suspended sentence would instead "ensure his offending behaviour does not escalate".

She told the court: "He clearly has issues in relation to his diagnosis of ADHD, his ability to deal with emotions, not just sadness, anger, irritation, working out how to deal with a situation. They are all issues he has to deal with, issues that can be dealt with by the probation service."

Kevin Jones, mitigating for Aston, of Harley Drive, Shrewsbury, said he was a man of good character who was a low risk of re-offending.

He said that ten days on remand had given him a taste of prison which had led him to give up cannabis, and focus on working, and saving money for his family.

He said: "He had a real taste of prison and he has come out recognising that is not somewhere he wants to return."

Judge Hobson said both incidents were "very serious".

She said: "There is no excuse for what you did to threaten your first victim's mother with machetes and what was described as a 'Rambo knife'. You threatened to stab her children. That must have been completely terrifying for her.

"It is a testament to her that she had the courage to remain outside with you to make sure you did not harm her children as you threatened to do so."

Judge Hobson said the second incident showed "it is clear to me you had absolutely no respect for those bail restrictions".

She added: "It is difficult for me to accept you feel any remorse for what happened in light of what you told the probation officer."

Both defendants were jailed for 28 months – 18 months for the first affray, and a consecutive 10 months for the second incident.