A TEENAGER who took part in a confrontation between two weapon wielding gangs, was given community punishment.

Damien Park, 19, was on licence when he was spotted carrying two machetes, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Park was the last of five defendants to be sentenced for his part in the melee on Barden Lane, Burnley.

Judge Raymond Bennett said if he had not had any co-defendants, he would probably have made Park serve some of his unexpired prison term. But, he added, none of the others had been sent to custody and no violence was used and the defendant would feel aggrieved if he was put behind bars.

Park, of Barr Street, Burnley, had earlier admitted affray.

David Temkin, prosecuting, said a disturbance, involving about 12 people, broke out outside a house on Barden Lane. Householder Graeme Francis The householder was waving a Samurai sword and seven or eight people were attacking him. He was waving the sword and officers feared somebody would be seriously injured.

The defendant was carrying two machetes, ran away and was chased. An officer tried to arrest Park and he was aggressive and hit him, said Mr Temkin. A struggle followed and the defendant was hit twice on the thigh with a police asp and told to get back.

The defendant told police he and his friends had been driving around in a car and got out to see what was going on. He denied hitting an officer but accepted he had been drinking.