A FAMILY feud over a fatal car smash turned violent when a man was brutally attacked in Dudley.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the dispute had been simmering before brothers Adel and Jibraan Rehman set upon Mohammed Abid in King Street.

The men punched Mr Abid and attacked him with a cricket bat because he had been linked with a crash in which a relative of theirs was killed.

Mr Abid, stressed prosecutor Howard Searle had not been charged by police, another man was accused of causing death by dangerous driving.

Judge Martin Welsh told the brothers: "There has been something of a feud and this attack occurred against the background of that festering sore".

He said Mr Abid had been had been left with a cut to his head and a wound to his hand that required nine stitches.

The judge added: "This was a frightening experience for the victim but fortuitously the injuries he suffered were not as serious as they might have been.

"It must also have been a terrifying experience for any members of the public watching it take place. But I am pleased to see this dispute has effectively been resolved and the boil has been lanced."

Adel, aged 23 and 19-year-old Jibraan, both of Bunns Lane, Kates Hill, admitted wounding while Adel further pleaded guilty to careless driving.

Mr Searle said Adel Rehman had caused inconvenience to other drivers in Dudley town centre after he and his brother by chance spotted Mr Abid.

He was then punched and he suffered the wound to his hand as he put up his arms to try and protect himself from the cricket bat.

In a victim impact statement Mr Abid later told police officers he had been left fearful for his safety and the incident had caused a great deal of stress for his family.

Bernard Porter, for Adel Rehman, said his client accepted he acted in a "stupid and impulsive" way while Heidi Kubik for his brother said he had learned his lesson and realised "it was not the way to go about things."

The brothers were each given a 12 month custodial sentence suspended for two years, placed on supervision for 18 months and ordered to carry out 180 hours unpaid work in the community.

The judge also told them they must each pay £375 compensation to Mr Abid while Adel Rehman was also disqualified from driving for six months.