A Luton shopkeeper and his brother who acted as "vigilantes" following a theft from the store have been given suspended jail terms.
Imran Siddique, 23, and Idris Siddique, 31, both of Wexham Close, lost their tempers and wielded a wheel brace in the street, Luton Crown Court heard.
They both admitted affray and possessing an offensive weapon in May.
Imran was given an eight-month sentence and Idris six months. Both jail terms were suspended for 12 months.
They were also ordered to do unpaid work and pay £750 costs.
The court heard Imran's store window was smashed and stock stolen by three drunken men he had refused to serve on 31 May 2010.
He and his brother armed themselves with a wheel brace and lashed out with it, scaring bystanders in High Town Road, the court was told.
'Great fear'
Judge Michael Kay QC told the brothers: "You went out to try and retrieve what had been taken but were struck on the head, causing a minor injury.
"At that point it would not surprise me that you lost your temper, but what you were not entitled to do was taken the law into your own hands and act as a vigilante.
"CCTV footage shows you both blocking the road and wielding a wheel brace, shouting and causing a great deal of fear to those in that road.
"But there is no evidence that anyone was actually struck."
Kyriakos Argyropolous, defending said the Siddique brothers were "utterly ashamed' of their conduct, which was completely out of character.
"The family work very hard in the shop for precious little profit and these events seem to have been the straw that broke the camel's back," he said.
"There is no evidence that any actual violence was used."
