A terrified man was told "get on your knees bruv" as thugs "took the law into their own hands" and carried out a brutal attack.

The vigilantes punched and kicked the victim - who they believed had stolen a £6,500 quad bike - and one of them threatened "I will kill you" as they wielded the axe.

Following the attack, the victim was taken to hospital where he was treated for a 4-5cm wound to the back of his head, swelling to his scalp and bruising to his head.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court was told that Lewis Tether, 26, was angry after his quad bike was stolen, and believed a man in Biddulph was responsible for the theft.

Along with Samuel Clarke, 25, and another man, Tether went after him on January 8, finding him with friends at Church Road playing fields in Biddulph.

The group ran off b

See Full Page