A PAIR of Pensett men mistakenly battered a man with an iron bar after smashing their way into his home.

Shane Simmonds wrongly believed John O'Dwyer was behind him losing his job and he carried out a revenge attack with his cousin Carlton Campbell.

Simmonds had known Mr O'Dwyer for 20 years but they fell out when he was sacked and he and Campbell had paper bags with eye holes over their heads when they shattered a window in their target's Kingswinford home.

Mr O'Dwyer, his partner and 18-year-old daughter were asleep and when he was woken by the sound of breaking glass he rushed into the lounge where he was repeatedly beaten about the head with the iron bar by Simmonds.

Alistair Redford prosecuting said 38-year-old Campbell then joined in and when Mr O'Dwyer fought back he began to kick the victim whose screaming partner feared she was going to be raped when Simmonds followed her into the bedroom.

She was then punched by Simmonds before he returned to the lounge where Campbell was still fighting Mr O'Dwyer who later had to be taken to hospital for treatment to eight head wounds.

Mr Redford told Wolverhampton Crown Court the two men then fled from but Simmonds was recognised when his hood was pulled from his head.

Mr Redford said: "The partner of Mr O'Dwyer clearly thought he was going to be killed, she was petrified throughtout the terrifying incident as was her teenage daughter."

Simmonds of Bryce Road and Campbell of Mullett Street, both Pensnett, admitted aggravated burglary with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, both men were jailed for eight-and-a-half years.

The court was told Campbell had been struck during the incident by Mr O'Dwyer and he was detained after traces of blood were recovered from the scene by investigating police officers.

Judge Mark Eades told the two defendants: "The was a heinous crime but you are not really serious criminals, this case derives from a one-off grievance which is unlikely to be repeated."

Jas Mann, for Simmonds, said his client had taken alcohol and cocaine before the attack on the house and he now accepted Mr O'Dwyer had nothing to do with him being dismissed from his job,.

Mr Mann added: "He is ordinarily a well behaved, hard working man who had made the biggest error of judgement in his life.”

Mr Malcolm Fowler, for Campbell, said: "He is an industrious and responsible family man who cannot explain this lapse but he knows he has to take full responsibility for what he has done."