A man has been jailed for attacking a rival gang member as violence erupted on a Workington street.

Daniel Weaver, 21, lay in wait before launching his evening assault.

This led to Weaver, of Senhouse Street, Siddick, finding himself in the dock at Carlisle Crown Court on the back of a police operation to curb problems between the opposing Mandem and Moorclose gangs.

Having pleaded guilty to charges of wounding and possession of an offensive weapon, he was sent to prison for 18 months by Recorder Kevin Grice.

Tim Evans, prosecuting, said the victim and Weaver had previously been friends before a fallout.

The victim and his brother were inside a shop in the Mossbay Road area of Workington on April 7.

They saw a woman, believed to be Weaver’s girlfriend.

“She looked at him and indicated with what the victim describes as a smug grin ‘you are getting it’,” said Mr Evans.

The brothers left the shop and headed to their vehicle.

But standing next to it were Weaver and, a short distance behind, the same woman.

Weaver had a wheel brace in his hand and made a “come on” comment.

Mr Evans said: “At that point the defendant approached the victim, swung the wheel brace at him and made contact with the right side of his head, hitting him a number of times with the brace; five times, the victim thought, fighting with him at the same time and trying, as he could, to get the defendant off him."

When the wheel brace was surrendered, the victim used it to crack the windscreen of Weaver’s vehicle after his attacker had run off.

He suffered two wounds to his head, one of which was said to be “relatively deep”.

Mr Evans conceded the violence “in fairness cuts both ways”.

He said: “It appears there are two rival groups or gangs in Workington. There are video postings on YouTube, Facebook, social media and the like which feature Weaver and others who are associated with his group.

“The victim has posted videos of himself containing insults directed towards the Weavers.

"The two gangs are the Weaver side Mandem gang and the other side Moorclose that, it is said, the complainant is associated with. It is thought that each side comprises in the region of 20 members."

Greg Hoare, defending, referred to background information and an “eloquent” letter written to the court by Weaver, which he said, showed there was another side to him.

He added: “If he can take up the offer of a job, it is hoped that this young man may yet turn the corner and realise some of the potential that he plainly has.”