THREE young men have appeared in court after dozens of teenagers confronted police on Acomb Green in a stand-off involving baseball bats and drink.

Youths barracked officers as they tried to arrest one of the crowd of between 40 and 50 teenagers, said Steven Ovenden, prosecuting.

"Some were in drink," he added.

"They were hanging around some steps, rubbish bins were strewn about."

Police control sent in the officers at 9.30pm on Tuesday, July 25, to break up the crowd after hearing some of the group had baseball bats.

Stuart Paul Sleightholme, 18, of Walton Place, Chapelfields, "came to the forefront of the group", said Mr Ovenden.

He was so abusive and violent officers had to struggle to put him in a police van.

"There was the potential for the situation to escalate," said Mr Ovenden. "Fortunately it didn't."

Fifteen to 20 youths hurled insults at the police, including Kevin George Wright, 18, of Danebury Drive, Acomb, who was also arrested.

Both teenagers pleaded guilty the next day to using threatening words and behaviour.

Sleightholme told magistrates he had nothing to say about the incident.

Wright apologised and said he had been "stupid".

Magistrates fined both £60 with £55 costs.

A third 18-year-old arrested during the incident, Philip Mark Burns, had earlier appeared before York magistrates in custody after he told police he had no fixed address.

He pleaded guilty to the same offence and received a 12-month conditional discharge with £55 costs.

None of the three arrested had baseball bats.