A MAN who burst into a home and repeatedly beat a father and son with a baseball bat has been given a five year jail sentence.

Teesside Crown Court heard how David Currell had been friendly with the victims for some time, but problems began after he was accused of an act of vandalism he denied.

Currell forced his way into the 59-year-old man’s home in Hartlepool, on January 26 this year, and hit him a number of times about the body with the weapon.

Prosecutor Harry Hadfield said that he felt intense pain and dropped to his knees.

When his 20-year-son tried to intervene he too was struck about the arms and legs. Mr Hadfield said he described Currell as having a look of anger in his eyes, mixed with enjoyment.

The younger man tried to take the bat off the defendant, but was hit again three times, although Currell was eventually disarmed and left without the weapon.

Mr Hadfield said that after Currell’s arrest, police spoke to his (the defendant's) father, who identified the bat as belonging to him.

The man also said his son confessed that he had been responsible for the violent attack on both victims, who received treatment at North Tees Hospital.

Both suffered bruising and swelling, but were not seriously injured.

The 59-year-old complainant in a statement said: “This has left me in a great deal of pain and feeling physically sick. No one should be subject to this abuse and violence.”

Currell, 20, of Watt Street, Murton, County Durham, admitted one offence of aggravated burglary.

Andrew Teate, mitigating, said Currell suffered from anger issues along with the disorder ADHD and dyslexia and at the time of the incident had not been taking prescribed medication for three or four weeks.

He said: “He (Currell) says it was the most stupid thing he could have done, he went to the address to have a confrontation and had the baseball bat with him.

“He is somebody immature in nature and his actions on the day in question were entirely out of character for him.”

Judge Stephen Ashurst briefly stood the case down following lengthy debate between the prosecution and defence about the correct sentencing guidelines which should to be adhered to.

On his return the judge, who was told that Currell expressed a great deal of remorse, jailed him for five years.