It is further evidence that one does not mess with Michael Bay: two brothers who attempted to extort money from the makers of Hollywood action sequel Transformers: Age of Extinction have been jailed in Hong Kong.

Mak Chi-shing and Mak Chi-hang targeted Bay's production unit after the US director arrived in the former British colony in October, demanding 100,000 Hong Kong dollars (£7,700) for what they said was "inconvenience". When the money was not paid, they created a disturbance, with media reports suggesting that Bay single-handedly disarmed one attacker who was wielding air-conditioning unit.

Reports from the court hearing confirm that Mak Chi-Shing, who was jailed for two and a half years, did try to hit the director. His brother Mak Chi-hang was jailed for six weeks for resisting police arrest.

The fourth Transformers film, starring Mark Wahlberg, is due for release in June. The film made headlines last year when it was revealed that some of its Chinese stars would be recruited via a reality TV show.

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