A drunken gang pelted police with snowballs and taunted officers in an early hours street disturbance, a court heard yesterday.

One experienced officer said he had been more frightened in the incident than when he had been on the frontline in the Bradford riots.

The outnumbered officers had to produce their batons and a Taser and use CS spray, Bradford Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Alesha Kaye said the incident happened after an assault on an 18-year-old man, Joshua Wilson, in Ackworth Street, West Bowling, just before 1am on January 21 this year, by Thomas Roberts.

Roberts, 18, who was with brothers Adam and Joseph Simpson, punched Mr Wilson three or four times in the face after the complainant swung his fist. Mr Wilson was also struck on the back of the head with a bottle, requiring six stitches, but it was not known who was responsible for that.

The police were called and they were still at the scene at 3am when a group of men began taunting them. They included the three defendants and another group of six men, who were not identified.

Miss Kaye said: “Officers were bombarded with snowballs. They were concerned and in fear.”

She said one officer produced a Taser and he and his two colleagues drew their batons, but the group of men were aggressive and rushed towards them, shouting threats.

The PC struck Adam Simpson on the arm with his baton, and was then threatened by Simpson’s brother.

The officers were hit in the face with snowballs but the group retreated when an officer sprayed CS gas in their direction.

Extra officers attended and Adam Simpson was arrested. Roberts was detained walking away from the scene ten minutes later and Joseph Simpson was arrested a few days later.

Roberts, of Farside Green, Little Horton; Joseph Simpson, 21, and Adam Simpson, 25, both of Dalcross Grove, West Bowling, pleaded guilty to affray. Roberts also admitted causing actual bodily harm to Mr Wilson.

Roberts and Joseph Simpson were sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for a year, with a three-month curfew. Adam Simpson, who had a history of offences of disorder and damage, was sentenced to six months immediate imprisonment.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, said that one of the officers had said the fear he had experienced was worse than that he felt on the frontline during the 2001 Bradford riots. He said it had been no way to treat police officers simply doing their job and had to be marked with custodial sentences.