Eight people have appeared in court in connection with an alleged violent dispute, involving weapons including a machete, described as “mob rule”. 

A father and sons and two brothers are among those charged with being involved in a confrontation between rival groups in a residential area of King’s Lynn.

Armed police swooped on the Fairstead estate on the evening of March 8 after a woman reported men with weapons outside her home, Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told.

Josephine Jones, prosecuting, said CCTV footage, played in court, showed a dispute between two groups.

“Clearly there was bad blood between them. This was mob rule to put it bluntly,” she added.

Eastern Daily Press: Jack Stacey entered no plea to charges of violent disorder and possession of a macheteJack Stacey entered no plea to charges of violent disorder and possession of a machete (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

Appearing in court accused of being involved, brothers George Stacey, 32, and Jack Stacey, 31, from Downham Market, and Kevin Storr, 37, from Watlington, entered no pleas to charges of violent disorder.

They are also charged with possession of offensive weapons including a machete and a hammer. 

Amadou Bah, 47, from the Lindens, King’s Lynn, and his son Zak Bah, 18, and stepson Benjamin Hastings, 21, also gave no plea to charges of violent disorder and using items including a garden edging tool and a metal pole as weapons. 

Daniel Collis, 34, of Centrepoint in King’s Lynn, also faces allegations of violent disorder and possessing a golf club as a weapon.   

A 17-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty to violent disorder and possession of a baseball bat.

Eastern Daily Press: Police were called to a confrontation between two groups that spilled over into the Centrepoint shopping area on the Fairstead estate at King's LynnPolice were called to a confrontation between two groups that spilled over into the Centrepoint shopping area on the Fairstead estate at King's Lynn (Image: Newsquest)

Andrew Cogan, representing Bah, Hastings and Collis, said “significant inquiries" were still needed to establish the full facts including analysing mobile phone evidence.  

Magistrates committed the trial to Norwich Crown Court saying their powers were insufficient with a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 8.

All the defendants were granted bail with conditions including night time curfews and having their movements monitored with electronic tags.

The Stacey brothers and Storr were also banned from entering King’s Lynn.