A teenager who brandished a knife during a “terrifying” incident in the Ravenswood area of Ipswich after a group of boy racers on mopeds were told to slow down by a resident has been locked up for three years.

Max Sinclair, 19, and two friends were on their scooters in a “quiet residential square” during the afternoon of June 11 when Betty Meadowcroft came out of her home in Sloeberry Road and spoke to them, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

When Mrs Meadowcraft asked them to slow down Sinclair said he could do what he wanted and was “verbally unpleasant” to her, said Hugh Vass, prosecuting.

Mrs Meadowcroft’s son Ben joined his mother and remonstrated with Sinclair about his attitude towards her and his brother Jack had also come out of the house.

During the scuffle that followed, Sinclair swung punches at the brothers and pulled out a lock knife which he used to stab Ben Meadowcroft in the thigh.

He aimed further blows at Ben Mesdowcroft’s head and although he managed to block some of them, he felt blood coming down his face, said Mr Vass.

Mrs Meadowcroft tried to intervene and received an injury to her eye which subsequently required laser treatment.

The incident ended when Sinclair and his friends rode off on their mopeds.

“There is some suggestion that Mrs Meadowcroft’s husband Peter, who took photographs of the incident, was hit by one of the three men,” said Mr Vass.

Ben Meadowcroft suffered lacerations to his right thigh, chest and hand and Jack Meadowcroft had scratches to his arms.

Sinclair, of Camborne Road, Kesgrave, admitted affray, attempting to wound Ben Meadowcroft with intent to do him grievous bodily harm, having an article with a blade and possessing cannabis.

Sentencing him to three years detention in a young offenders’ institution, Recorder Christopher Makey said the incident must have been “terrifying” for the Meadowcroft family.

“As far as this family was concerned it was a quiet afternoon that was ruined when three mopeds started driving round the square and quite understandably Mrs Meadowcroft decided to go out to tell you off and suggest you move on,” said the judge.

“The consequence of that was members of the family were assaulted. In the event the injuries that were sustained were less serious than they might have been but there could have been a different outcome,” he added.

Neil Saunders for Sinclair said his client had acted impulsively and needed to grow up.