THREE men burst into a house before carrying out a ‘punishment’ beating, because of a comment the victim made to one of his attacker’s sons earlier that evening.

Ronald Coles was joined by brothers Desmond and Noel Rollins, in the confrontation, at the victim’s home in Peterlee, on June 18.

Durham Crown Court heard that it stemmed from an exchange between the man and a group of youths on bikes a short time earlier.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said the victim had been celebrating his birthday with his brother and a friend in Durham, before returning by bus to Peterlee where there was a verbal exchange with several youths.

He accepted swearing at them, to which one of the youths replied: “Do you know who my dad is?”

That youth was then seen speaking to someone on his mobile phone.

The group followed the men back to a house in Cambrian Way, where Coles later called saying they should not speak to children as they had done.

He left, but returned with the Rollins, and carried out the assault, pushing the householder back onto the couch where he was kicked, punched and also struck with a golf club, with such ferocity that it snapped.

The court heard he suffered heavy bruising to his lower back, legs, head and body, while his stomach was swollen and it emerged he had suffered a ruptured bowel, for which he spent a fortnight in hospital.

Mr Dryden said the victim still suffers mental scars in the form of flashbacks.

All three attackers were picked out on an identity procedure, but neither replied to police questioning.

Coles, 34, of Troutbeck Way, 37-year-old Desmond Rollins, of Keswick Road, and brother Noel, 33, of Yoden Road, all Peterlee, each later admitted unlawful wounding.

Paul Cleasby, for Coles, said he “lost his self-control” when he heard about the earlier verbal exchange involving his son.

Mr Cleasby and the barristers representing the Rollins, Andrew Finlay and Graham Cook, said all three have previous convictions, but none in recent years, and all are now remorseful for their actions that evening.

Jailing each for three years, Judge James Spencer told them: “You are all mature men with family responsibilities who have gone a long time without convictions.”

But he said all took part in what he considered, “a joint enterprise”, carrying out a severe assault.

Indefinite restraining orders were imposed to prevent them contacting the victim.