ONE of three brothers who took part in a joint attack on a partially disabled man has joined his siblings behind bars.

Wayne Griffin was jailed for 32 months at Durham Crown Court for his part in the assault in Horden in the early hours of October 8 last year.

His brothers, Darren and Sean, were jailed for 29 months and 32 months respectively earlier this year after a trial that Wayne Griffin failed to attend.

The trio, joined by Darren's girlfriend Jade Saxby, went "mob-handed" to the flat of a partially disabled 49-year-old man amid a row about rumours - which they believed were being spread by his friend.

Armed with a hammer, knife and broom shank, they burst into the flat, where Saxby also grabbed the disabled man’s walking stick.

The court heard they used all but the knife to attack his friend, causing initial heavy blood loss - which made them stop and apologise, before leaving.

The court heard Saxby later returned to offer the victim money not to report the attack to police.

Twenty-eight-year-old Darren Griffin, of Gayfield Terrace, Grants Houses, near Horden, Sean Griffin, 38, of Hawthorn Crescent, Horden, and 18-year-old Saxby, of Cotsford Lane, also Horden, each admitted violent disorder earlier this year.

Wayne Griffin, 39, of Hawthorn Crescent, was brought before the court on a warrant on September 2 and also admitted violent disorder.

He was brought back to court for sentencing and was jailed for 32 months, with a month added for failing to attend court earlier this year.

Judge Robert Adams said: “This was a clearly pre-meditated attack."

He was also made subject of a restraining order forbidding him trying to contact or approach the two occupants of the flat, "until further order."