Two young men from Trafford have been jailed for carrying out an "unprovoked assault" using machetes in Stretford.
Yesterday (February 1), at Minshull Street Crown Court, Mustapha Kolifa and Cameron Healey-Jennings were sentenced for grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.
The court heard that at around 10.45pm on April 6 last year, a man was exiting a grocery shop on Chester Road, where Kolifa, 21, and Healey-Jennings, 22, were waiting for him outside.
CCTV showed the pair using machetes to attack the victim, who ran back into the shop and shut the door.
Kolifa, with the machete in his hand, ran and kicked the door but was unable to get in.
After the pair were arrested, officers attended the home of Kolifa and found two machetes, which were seized by police.
Around the time of the incident, Kolifa uploaded a music video to YouTube, in which he bragged about violence in parts of Trafford.
When passing sentence, Recorder Nathan Moxon said: "You were without doubt the aggressors throughout the incidents. You are clearly both extremely immature.
"Week after week we hear of young men being stabbed to death by young men such as yourselves."
Kolifa, of Totnes Road in Sale, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison while Healey-Jennings, of Lindow Road, Stretford, was sentenced to four years and two months in jail.
Detective Housley of Greater Manchester Police's (GMP's) Trafford District said: “This was a terrifying incident for the victim in an unprovoked assault. Fortunately, the victim did not suffer life-changing injuries, however this highly aggressive and unrestrained attack could have easily resulted in fatal consequences.
"There were many members of the public coming in and out of the shop around the time of the attack, who could have also easily been injured too. The perpetrators have absolutely no regard for the safety of others and the law.
"They think it is acceptable to walk around the streets of Manchester armed with machetes.
"Further aggravating is around the time of this incident Kolifa uploaded a music video onto YouTube in which he bragged about violence in the Gorse Hill and Old Trafford area.
“It is completely unacceptable to carry weapons on the streets of Manchester. GMP will continue to take any such incidents very seriously and continue to seek prosecutions and custodial sentences for anyone who chooses to carry a weapon.”
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