Men seen with axe and metal bar when brawl broke out with shopkeeper on busy street, Sheffield judge hears

A pair of men were seen brandishing an axe and a metal bar and throwing bricks on a residential street when a brawl broke out between themselves and a shopkeeper, a Sheffield judge heard.

Mohammed Rashid, aged 28, was captured on video clutching a hatchet while posturing topless on Doncaster’s Copley Road on May 27 last year.

He and co-defendant Sangar Zinati, 33, were seen throwing bricks at the window of an international food store whose owner the pair - both Kurdish nationals - were rowing with at the time.

Mark Thomas, prosecuting, played video footage to Sheffield Crown Court which showed the store owner exiting with a stick and attacking Rashid.

Shirtless Rashid was captured repeatedly punching the shopkeeper and delivering two kicks to his head, leaving his face and shirt bloody.

Mr Thomas said the retailer suffered a black eye, broken nose and lost some teeth.

Rashid had told police he had acted in self-defence and Zinati, representing himself, claimed the shopkeeper had threatened to “rape” his daughter.

Rashid had four previous convictions for five offences including threatening behaviour while Zinati had two convictions for 19 offences related to “dissimilar” matters, the court heard.

Recorder Ian Mullarkey told the pair: “This was a disgraceful episode of public disorder - whatever the disagreement it’s completely unacceptable. (The complainant) must have been terrified.”

He handed Rashid and Zinati 12 months and 10 months jail suspended for 18 months respectively.

Rashid, of Copley Street, was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity days.

Zinati, of St James Street, was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity days.

Both admitted affray and possessing an offensive weapon.

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