The ringleader of a group of youths - who shot at members of a rival gang after a petty dispute escalated - has been jailed for 12 years, the Bucks Free Press can now reveal.

Umar Hussain left one of his victims with more than 100 pellets in him after blasting him with a shotgun in Lucas Wood in Totteridge on May 11.

The shooting came after a previous fight in a public park, during which metal poles, knives and bats were used in a "shocking and violent disorder".

Three other members of the group were also imprisoned, while another was given a suspended sentence. The five youths were sentenced at Amersham Crown Court on January 12, but the case could not be reported until now due to a court order.

Today, Hussain's father was also jailed for threatening and intimidating witnesses during the trial of his son.

Members of the two groups had previously clashed at the AMF bowling alley in High Wycombe, which led to them arranging to have a fight in a park off Lucas Road.

Elizabeth Dean, prosecuting, told the court the defendants produced weapons which had been concealing when they arrived at the park, with the other gang - which consisted of older youths - turning up unarmed.

Later the same day the rival group went back to Totteridge intending to go the home of 19-year-old Hussain in Underwood Road, walking through Lucas Wood in order to get there.

Ms Dean said the group led by Hussain had got wind of the fact the other gang were coming for them and hid in the woods.

When they heard and saw movement, Ms Dean said, Hussain fired the shotgun - injuring four people, including one gang member who was later found to have 102 pellets embedded in him.

Hussain had previously been seen brandishing a knife or machete in the park, which he used to strike someone in the back of the head, Ms Dean said.

Jurors convicted Hussain - who, the court heard, has four previous convictions for six offences and was given a police reprimand for a battery offence committed at the age of ten - of two counts of wounding with intent and one each of violent disorder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

He was sentenced to a total of 12 years in a youth offenders' institute by Judge John Cole, who told him: "The injuries caused by the shotgun could have been a lot worse. This was a potentially deadly loaded firearm. The intention was to endanger life."

The judge added: "This case concerns a shocking and violent disorder in a public place where all of the defendants were present as part of an armed group, in which most of the group had bats, poles or knives. Serious injuries were inflicted.

"I am in no doubt whatsoever this group turned up armed and expected to be in an armed confrontation. The other group weren't armed at that stage.

"The incident spilled over into a way more shocking incident in some woods in High Wycombe - this time where a firearm was used."

Hussain was the only member of the gang to be sentenced for firing the gun, but three of his companions were also given lengthy jail sentences for their part in the fight at the park.

Jaffer Ali - who has a previous police warning for actual bodily harm - was found guilty of violent disorder and wounding with intent after hitting a rival in the back of the head as they were running away, leaving a wound that needed five staples.

Judge Cole told the 19-year-old, of Mayhew Crescent, High Wycombe: "You were a central figure in the violent disorder. Armed with a pole or bat, you struck your victim to the back of the head.

"This was a vicious and cowardly attack from behind to the back of the head."

Ali was handed a five year term in a young offenders' institute for wounding with intent and a concurrent three year stretch for violent disorder.

A 17-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also convicted of violent disorder and wounding with intent, again for leaving someone with a wound to the back of the head. He was sentenced to three and a half years behind bars for wounding with intent and given a concurrent two year spell for violent disorder.

Adnan Talukdar was caged for three years for what Judge Cole described as "a particularly extreme example" of violent disorder.

The judge told the 20-year-old father-of-one: "At your home address was found a broomstick with nails on it. You were certainly part of the armed group on the night in question.

"You have a particularly bad previous conviction - possession of a firearm and a robbery of a hairdresser's premises."

Another youth who was convicted of violent disorder was wearing a knuckleduster when he punched someone during the fight, although the court heard this was provided by someone else.

But his two year spell inside a youth offenders' institute was suspended for two years after the judge ruled he had been coerced into taking part. He was ordered to carry out 300 hours' of unpaid work, made the subject of a 12 month supervision order and told to pay a £20 victim surcharge.

Judge Cole told him however: "You've avoided an immediate custodial sentence by the very skin of your teeth."

All of the defendants were also ordered to pay victim surcharges, ranging in severity from £20 to £120.