During the murder trial of Jordan Glover, the jury heard of the long-standing feuds on Bradford’s Holme Wood Estate that spilled over into violence.

Detective Constable Emma Barnes told Bradford Crown Court that her work had a particular focus on organised crime groups in the Bradford area.

Speaking in broad terms about tensions on the estate, she said there were ‘long-standing feuds’ between different gangs that could spill over into violence, including assaults, criminal damage, vehicle rammings and arson attacks.

She said the disputes could have a wider impact on families, friends and associates of those involved, and an impact on the general community.

Some people in the area were too afraid to help the police or to report matters, the court heard.

Those not part of the groups could get ‘embroiled,’ including when things became violent, DC Barnes stated.

Sam Green QC, leading defence counsel, suggested to her that residents on the estate must be terrified by the sight of armed men in balaclavas haring about on unlicensed quad bikes.

The jury heard that last summer tensions were running high in the Holme Wood area with criminality, and sometimes violence between rival groups.

Prosecutor, Jason Pitter QC, said the Holme Wood area was beset by tensions at the time between the ‘top enders’ and the ‘bottom enders.’ Shortly before the fatal quad bike collision, a parked VW Golf was deliberately rammed by a man called Frankie Simpson who was driving a Nissan Terrano around the estate.

The Terrano was later burnt out by an unknown figure caught on CCTV setting light to it.

Glover told the police he was not involved in the violence or a member of a gang but he and his girlfriend had previously been threatened by men armed with machetes and he had since moved away from the estate.

Glover, 24, from the Thorpe Edge area of Bradford, was yesterday convicted by a jury of murdering Rahees Mahmood, 18, and of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Tommy-Lee Haigh, 19.

He deliberately rammed a quad bike killing Mr Mahmood and seriously injuring the driver. He has been jailed for life with a minimum term of more than 18 years behind bars.

Judge Hatton said the arrival of the quad bike was related to gang rivalry on the estate. Glover had allowed himself to become embroiled in that violence and had used his car as a weapon.

Judge Hatton praised the police investigation amid silence and hostility from some quarters.

Mr Pitter said aggravating features were the background of ongoing tensions and the use of a car as a weapon.

Afterwards, police were quick to point out that the case was a “stark warning” of the potential deadly consequences of becoming engaged in damage, assaults and other anti-social behaviour.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Nicholson of West Yorkshire Police said: “There are no winners in this case. An 18 year old man lost his life with devastating consequences for his family and friends and a 24 year old man will be spending a minimum of 18 years in prison.

“I hope this serves as a stark warning to other young men in the Holme Wood area who might be engaging in petty damage, assaults, dangerous driving or anti-social behaviour that sometimes it can have serious and deadly consequences.”