TWO men have been jailed for settling a grievance by smashing their way into a Kingswinford man's home and viciously attacking him with an iron bar.

Shane Simmonds mistakenly believed John O'Dwyer was behind him losing his job and he carried out the "revenge" attack with his cousin Carlton Campbell.

Simmonds had known Mr O'Dwyer for 20 years but they fell out when he was sacked.

Covering their heads with paper bags and hoods, Simmonds and Campbell entered their target's Rangeways Road home by shattering a window.

Mr O'Dwyer, his partner and 18-year-old daughter, were asleep at the time but when he was woken by the sound of breaking glass, he rushed into the lounge where he was repeatedly beaten about the head with the iron bar by Simmonds.

Alistair Redford, prosecuting, said 38-year-old Campbell then joined in and when Mr O'Dwyer fought back he began to kick the victim, whose screaming partner feared she was going to be raped when Simmonds followed her into the bedroom.

She was then punched by Simmonds before he returned to the lounge where Campbell was still fighting Mr O'Dwyer, who was later taken to hospital for treatment to eight head wounds.

Mr Redford told Wolverhampton Crown Court the two men then fled from but Simmonds was recognised when his hood was pulled from his head.

"The partner of Mr O'Dwyer clearly thought he was going to be killed," said Mr Redford.

"She was petrified throughout the terrifying incident, as was her teenage daughter."

Simmonds, of Bryce Road, and Campbell, of Mullett Street, both Pensnett, admitted aggravated burglary with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The court was told Campbell had been struck by Mr O'Dwyer during the incident and he was detained after traces of blood were recovered from the scene by investigating police officers.

"The was a heinous crime but you are not really serious criminals," Judge Mark Eades told the two defendants as he jailed them both for eight-and-a-half years, "This case derives from a one-off grievance which is unlikely to be repeated."

Jas Mann, defending Simmonds, said he had taken alcohol and cocaine before the attack on the house and he now accepted Mr O'Dwyer had nothing to do with him being dismissed from his job.

"He is ordinarily a well behaved, hard working man who had made the biggest error of judgement in his life," added Mr Mann.

Malcolm Fowler, for Campbell, said: "He is an industrious and responsible family man who cannot explain this lapse but he knows he has to take full responsibility for what he has done."