A NINETEEN-year-old who armed himself with a wooden stick as part of a 20-strong race hate mob outside a Burnley high school has been given two years youth custody.

Burnley Crown Court heard that Storm McGowan and friends, some armed with metal bars, were lying in wait for 13 and 14-year-old Asian students outside Sir John Thursby College.

Eyewitness Renad Khan said the gang were chanting racist abuse and brandishing the weapons at them.

Prosecutor Sarah Staham said the white gang chased the Asian students from the school towards Duke Bar.

“Fortunately once they got in the vicinity of the Derby Arms pub, there was a police car and the group dispersed,” she added.

“The incident left all of the witnesses very shaken and scared.”

But later youth worker Frances Monk confirmed that the same gang could be seen waiting outside a nearby community centre, the court heard. still armed with weapons.

Philip Holden, defending, said McGowan had encountered problems with attacks from older Asian men.

But Judge Andrew Woolman said his difficulties were no excuse for ‘bullying and threatening young boys’.

McGowan, of Colbran Street, Burnley, admitted affray, and a series of burglary charges.

He was sent to a young offender’s institution for two years.

The court heard McGowan burgled two sheltered flats in Browhead Court, including the home of a 91-year-old man as he slept.

In the second burglary a 68-year-old man awoke to find the teenager in his flat.

He fled with medication but was later arrested.