Five men in court after police called to trouble at Al Azhar Mosque in South Shields

Monsur Miah, 25, who was armed with a "metal implement", Rejwan Miah, 19, Mohammed Miah, 48, who was carrying a wrench, Azfal Miah, 24 and Mid Hussain, 39, were all involved in a violent clash at the Al Azhar Mosque at Laygate, South Shields in August 2018.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Rejwan Miah summoned "troops" with a phone call saying he was under "imminent threat" at the packed mosque.

Azfal Miah, of Marshall Wallis Road, Mohammed Miah, of Western Approach, Rejwan Miah, of St Jude's Terrace, Mid Hussain, of Gompertz Gardens, and Monsur Miah, of St Jude's Terrace, all pleaded guilty to a section 4 public order offence in relation to the distrubance at the mosque.

Monsur and Mohammed Miah both also pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon.

Monsur Miah also admitted two counts of dangerous driving, driving without a licence and without insurance and has been jailed for 20 months with a three years and four months driving ban.

The court heard it was three months after the mosque offences Monsur Miah was spotted by officers driving at 70mph through a 40mph zone on the John Reid Road, in South Shields.

Then on August 1 last year, was caught by police driving while disqualified from Stanhope Road to Marshall Road in South Shields.

John Wilkinson, defending, said that Miah's Audi had been confiscated and he has been left £4,000 out of pocket.

Judge Stephen Earl said of the offences at the mosque: "There was a considerable number of children and therefore what could have been described as a vulnerable group of people in relation to what took place."

The judge told Rejwan Miah: "They believed that you were perhaps under imminent threat when you and made the phone call because that is what you said."

Rejwan Miah was sentenced to two months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

Mohammed Miah was sentenced to seven months in prison, suspended for 18 months and 175 hours unpaid work.

Azfal Miah and Hussain were both sentenced to a two year conditional discharge.