A “COWARDLY” son has been jailed after he incited his family to attack a Good Samaritan.

Mother Tracey Lorraine Hartley, 47, led the way as the group, armed with lengths of fencing, charged down Seventh Avenue in Tang Hall, said Austin Newman, prosecuting at York Crown Court.

She started the attack on her near neighbour Craig Tomlinson, during which he was hit from behind with a stick and fell to the ground where others attacked him with their weapons.

The group had been summoned by Hartley’s son Andrew Lee Robinson, 23, because the neighbour had intervened when he was pulling his girlfriend “forcibly” along the street at 1.30am on July 19, 2015, said Mr Newman.

Together with his partner, Mr Tomlinson had spoken to the girlfriend when Robinson left her upset and distressed, called the police and at their suggestion, kept an eye on her while waiting for officers to arrive.

Mr Tomlinson had also got the better of Robinson when, angry at the neighbour’s actions, he had attacked him. The son had then cycled off warning that he was “going for support” and returned as part of the group led by his mother, which also included his brother Liam James Robinson, 22.

Calling him a coward, Judge Andrew Stubbs QC jailed Andrew Robinson, of Holgate Road, York, for 20 months.

Mitigating for Andrew Robinson, Victoria Smith-Swain said he was remorseful and sorry he had got his family involved.

The judge told Hartley: “You have the responsibility to be a good role model and set them (the brothers) a good example. You spectacularly failed on this night.”

Hartley, of Seventh Avenue, Tang Hall, and Liam Robinson, formerly of Seventh Avenue, Tang Hall, received 18-month prison sentences suspended for 18 months. Hartley was also given a six-month nightly curfew and Liam Robinson 150 hours’ unpaid work and ordered to pay £500 prosecution costs. All three admitted affray. For Liam Robinson, Taryn Turner said he had cut his ties with his family and set up life with his girlfriend.

Neal Kutte for Hartley did not give mitigation after the judge said he would suspend her sentence.