Two of those involved have been jailed
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A "petty Facebook argument" ended with a meat cleaver and claw hammer being brandished in front of shocked witnesses in a Derby street.
Derby Crown Court heard how the spat saw one couple drive to another's address while streaming their journey live over the social media giant's platform.
But when Levan Lake and his partner arrived at a Sainsbury's store close to the Markeaton Street address of Helen Sharpe and Wesley Potter, their movements had been tracked online.
As the first couple went to leave the store, Potter was there with a hammer protruding from the sleeve of his top.
And when the row ended up outside his and Sharpe's address, she came out clutching the cleaver.
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Sentencing three of the four – no charges were brought on Lake's partner – Judge Nirmal Shant QC said: "The sheer spectacle of people fighting in a public place is likely to cause fear or distress.
"This was a busy public street and (you were) people in the middle of it remonstrating both verbally and physically."
Siward James-Moore, prosecuting, said the incident happened on May 3, 2020.
He said the catalyst was a "tit-for-tat" argument over Facebook between the two couples.
Mr James-Moore said: "Lake said he was leaving his home and was driving towards Markeaton Street and the progress of their journey was streamed over Facebook Live.
"Before getting to the home they stopped at a nearby Sainsbury's and when Lake came out there was Potter with a claw hammer protruding out of the sleeve of his top.
"Threats were made, there was some pushing, but not much more than that."
Mr James-Moore said the row escalated and ended up outside of the home of Potter and Sharpe, both aged 37.
He said there Sharpe came out brandishing the meat cleaver, while Lake, also known as Levan Page, armed himself with a scooter.
The incident, which saw Potter rain punches down on Lake, was witnessed by a number of neighbours.
The police were called and all of those involved were arrested.
Lake, 32, of King Street, Derby, and who has more than 50 previous convictions to his name, pleaded guilty to affray and was jailed for a year.
Gary Short, mitigating said: "Since the defendant has been in custody he missed the birth of his son and his intention is to build a future with his son on release."
Sharpe, pleaded guilty to affray and possession of the meat cleaver and has previous convictions including one for carrying a knife which she used to cut tags off items when shoplifting.
She was handed a 21-month sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to carry our 20 rehabilitation sessions with the probation service.
Judge Shant said she felt the defendant, who has mental health issues, shows "a realistic prospect of rehabilitation" hence not sending her to immediate custody.
Bianca Brasoveanu, her barrister, said: "It is a little upsetting that an incident she described to the police as a 'petty Facebook argument' escalated to the point that three out of the four people involved are sat in the dock awaiting sentence."
And Potter, who has previous convictions including robbery and assaulting an emergency worker, pleaded guilty to affray and possession of an offensive weapon – the claw hammer.
He was sent to prison for 11 months.
Emma Hodgson, mitigating, said: "He felt that by going to Sainsbury's with a hammer he would prevent Mr Lake from coming to his house and causing any violence."
Derbyshire police refused to provide custody photographs of Lake and Potter due to unexplained "vulnerabilities and safeguarding issues".
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