A HOUSEHOLDER was brutally attacked by a gang when he told one of them to stop urinating against his neighbour's fence.

Edward Bainbridge was at home with his wife on April 27 last year when he heard youths teasing his dog in the garden outside.

Newcastle Crown Court heard when he went outside to investigate, he was greeted by the sight of Kevin Dunn relieving himself.

When Mr Bainbridge asked the 18-year-old what he thought he was doing he received a torrent of abuse followed by a brutal attack which left him fearing he would be killed.

Prosecutor Amanda Rippon told the court how the attack was witnessed by Mr Bainbridge's wife, who pleaded with the attackers to stop.

Miss Rippon said: "Mr Bainbridge walked out of his garden towards Dunn, who was then joined by three other males.

"All of them were shouting, all of them used foul and abusive language and all four walked towards him.

"He said 'can you get away from my house, I don't want you shouting and swearing and urinating next to my house'.

"He was then attacked, he was attacked by Dunn and another male he was never able to identify.

"He was punched to the head and forced to the ground.

"Once on the ground he received blows to the body and he was curled up trying to protect himself.

"Mrs Bainbridge came out and ran to the scene of the assault on her husband.

"She began screaming and she shouted and told them she had phoned the police but she was pushed away and ignored.

"She was distraught but the attack continued."

The court heard how the attack came to an end when a brave neighbour came out and pulled Mr Bainbridge's attackers off him one by one.

Mr Bainbridge was taken to hospital with bruising and cuts to his ear, a swollen jaw which was feared broken, a knee sprain and other cuts and bruises.

Ms Rippon added: "He believed genuinely that Dunn had a weapon, a knife, and thought he was going to be seriously hurt, in his words he feared the worst."

Dunn was arrested and released on bail.

It was while he was on bail in July he took part in another joint street attack where he hit his victim with a baseball bat.

Judge Beatrice Bolton branded the assaults "cowardly and vicious" and sentenced Dunn to a total of three years behind bars.

Judge Bolton said: "You took against Mr Bainbridge because he did not like you urinating against the fence.

"You and others waded in and attacked him in an appalling fashion where his wife stood by and screamed.

"During the course of the attack he feared the worst, in other words he thought he might be killed or very seriously injured.

"This was a cowardly and dreadful attack."

Defence barrister Peter Schofield said Dunn, who has previous convictions for violence, is making good progress while in custody on remand and wants to turn his back on crime and establish a relationship with his baby daughter.

Mr Schofield said: "He wants to become a very responsible, involved father."

Dunn, of Bishop Crescent, Jarrow, admitted two charges of assault causing actual bodily harm.