TWO culprits involved in a mob-handed attack on a man in his own home were jailed for two years each.

But a third intruder, who was masked during the beating, remains at large having not been identified.

Durham Crown Court heard that Gavin Pratt knocked at a house door in Seaham, at 7am on March 19.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said Pratt entered followed by two men wearing balaclavas and assaulted the male householder, using spindles broken from the stair bannister.

Mr Dryden said the raiders repeatedly asked for amounts of money, mostly £10 notes.

The victim pulled off the balaclava of one of the masked pair, John Bridgewater, during the struggle and his dna was found on it, as it was left at the scene.

Pratt, 39, of Westcott Road, Peterlee, and Bridgewater, 31, of Station Street, Haswell, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and attempted theft.

Jailing them, Recorder Ian Atherton said the victim and his partner have moved as a result of the attack.