A YOB armed with a knife who was part of a gang who smashed up a man's car with a baseball bat has been jailed.

Jack Grey was one of three people caught on CCTV causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to the victim's Vauxhall Insignia following a minor dispute in June 2018.

The 18-year-old, who was 16 at the time of the incident, could be seen waving a large knife around before repeatedly jumping onto the roof of the car. The two other youths in the footage, one armed with a baseball bat, have never been prosecuted for their part in the violent rampage.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Grey and his accomplices had targeted the car after one of his friends get into a dispute with its owner over a 'prank'.

Emma Atkinson, prosecuting, said they had gone to the man's house looking for him and his wife had called him telling him to come home.

In the meantime, the youths attacked the car smashing its mirrors and causing extensive damage to car, which left the owner around £5,000 out of pocket.

Miss Atkinson read from the victim's personal statement saying: "He thought his life was threatened and didn't know how to defend himself against someone who had a baseball bat or a knife.

"He thought it was premeditated to smash up his car."

She told the court how Grey had eight convictions for 16 offences including one for threatening a person with a meat cleaver.

In mitigation, Simon Walker said his client had now 'disassociated' himself from the two friends who were involved in the criminal damage almost 18-months ago.

"He was filling his time drinking whilst taking drugs and getting into trouble," he said. "What he did cannot be justified. He told me 'I have no excuse for what I did or for having a knife in my possession'."

He added: "This man has significantly turned his life around – you don't need to take my word for that – he has stopped offending."

Judge Peter Armstrong told the defendant he would have considered a suspended sentence but for the charge of possession of a knife.

He said: "You saw how you were behaving – waving a knife around – you were all hitting and jumping up and down on the victim's car.

"You're the only to be brought to justice for this but that is no mitigation. I'm afraid."

Grey, of Lilac Avenue, Thornaby, was sentenced to eight months detention in a young offender institute after pleading guilty to possession of a bladed article.

He was also given a two month concurrent sentence for criminal damage and ordered to carry out a 12-month supervision order.