'Like the Bronx': Gang broke into Wakefield home to stab occupant in 'revenge' attack over man's death

The scene on the city centre residential street was described as being "like something from the Bronx" as Dylan Buckley, Shannon Oliver, Ashley Oliver and Georgina Evans went looking for answers following the death of 30-year-old Jerome Jones in April last year.

They first kicked their way into a flat in Wakefield, before heading to a house where they put the windows through and climbed inside to attack the occupant, Leeds Crown Court was told.

Mr Jones had died on April 8 last year, prosecutor Jeremy Hill-Baker said.

The partner and mother to his two children, Shannon Oliver, her brother Ashley, Mr Jones' brother Buckley and his partner Evans went in search of two men who they thought had played a part in his death.

Facebook messages were traded between the first man and some of the defendants, with Shannon Oliver saying she wanted to meet him, before threatening him.

The court heard Buckley sent similar messages demanding to know what the man knew about his brother's death, before telling him "you are going to get what's coming to you" and added "I will make your kids watch you die".

At around 8pm on April 10, they went to the first man's flat on Saville Street and kicked his door in to gain access, but he was not present. Only Evans stayed outside.

They then headed for a house on Earl Street. The prosecutor said Mr Jones had been outside that property two days earlier and was taken in by the occupant, but later died.

The man and wife who lived there were subsequently questioned by police about Mr Jones' death, but no charges followed.

At around 10.30pm on April 10, the male occupant heard banging on his front door before noticing the four defendants outside his kitchen window.

He noticed Shannon Oliver was brandishing a pair of scissors. Attempts were then made to gain access by throwing garden ornaments at the windows.

Buckley managed to get inside once the window had been smashed and he grappled with the occupant, who held him off while Shannon Oliver tried to stab him with the scissors.

The police arrived and arrested the group. They found Buckley in an alleyway and was "clearly intoxicated" said Mr Hill-Baker, who said a lock knife was also found in his jogging bottoms.

Evans and Shannon Oliver were also aggressive to the officers, with Oliver saying "a life for a life".