A father and his three sons have been jailed after a court heard how they arrived "mob handed" in a Bedford street to launch an attack on a group of people.
Jan Kovac senior led a gang of six to Midland Road who were intent on causing trouble.
The father was angry following a series of text messages he'd received from others as he prepared to open his new shop for business in Queens Park.
Luton Crown Court heard on Wednesday that some of the gang, who all come from the Czech Republic, had armed themselves with a variety of weapons including a stick, a metal bar and wooden pole.
In the dock all pleaded guilty to a charge of affray on the night of March 14 this year.
The court heard how on that day Mr Kovac snr, 38, and his family had been busy preparing to open a second shop in the Queens Park area of Bedford.
Andel Singh defending said Mr Kovac's attempts to better himself had led to a "degree of jealousy" which resulted in him receiving text messages of an aggressive nature during the day.
The court heard he had been drinking and later when he and other family members drove to Midland Road to confront those people he believed were behind the messages.
With the father that evening were sons Jan Kovac jnr, 20, Juri Kovac, 18, and Marcel Kovac, 21. Their cousin Tomas Bledy, 26, was with them and driving the gang was Josef Cernohous, 42.
It was shortly after 9.30pm when the group arrived in Midland Road.
CCTV captured them on the street and the court was told that armed with a variety of weapons they attacked two men and three women outside a shop.
Luckily those targeted were able to scatter but one of the women was struck across the wrist.
Judge Geoffrey Breen hearing the case was told that by chance a lone woman police officer arrived on the scene in her patrol car.
PC Amy Fox immediately got out of her vehicle and by standing her ground she was able to stop the violence escalating.
Mr Singh said all the group were now remorseful for their actions.
He said the defendants were "absolutely petrified" at the prospect of going to prison.
The court heard Kovac snr was ashamed to find himself in court and had always prided himself on being a good role model for his sons.
Passing sentence Judge Breen said "It was clearly planned and premeditated because you went to the scene mob handed armed with weapons and you knew that the person or persons you were seeking would be there. This was a concerted joint attack."
The father of Leven Walk, Bedford was jailed for eight months.
Jan Kovac jnr and Juri Kovac and Marcel Kovac all of Bromham Road, Biddenham were sent to a young offenders institute for six months. Bledy and Cernohous both of Oak Road Bedford were sent to prison for six months.