Brothers attacked man in South Shields barbers with knuckleduster and wooden bat and set dog on him

Lance McGann 32, and Damion McGann, 39, targeted their victim because they believed he had contacted the police to report them for a robbery last year.

As well as being hit with weapons, Newcastle Crown Court heard the man was also set upon by a dog which bit him on the leg.

Barry Robson, prosecuting, said that the victim and the defendants had been known to each other for some time.

Mr Robson said: "The complainant was getting his haircut at a barbers on February 24 in South Shields.

"Lance McGann entered first with a knuckle duster and Damion McGann entered shortly afterwards with a pitbull type terrier and what appeared to be a stick.

"Lance McGann immediately started attacking him to the head and legs with the knuckle duster.

"The dog, which didn't appear to be on a lead, attacked him as well, biting him on the calf. Damion started to strike him with the wooden bat."

Mr Robson told the court that the violence did come a stop when a passer-by who knew the men got involved.

It was heard that the victim suffered a large gash to the head which was later glued together as well lacerations, swelling, soreness and bites from the dog.

A statement read out in court on behalf of the victim said he was very concerned for his health due to a pre-existing brain injury, and that he believed the pair should not be allowed to get away with it.

Joanne Kidd, defending Lance McGann, said: "It is described as a minor head injury with treatments that required the cleaning of the wound and the gluing of the wound.

"Lance McGann has spent this time back in Durham Prison, almost the entire period of the Covid lockdown.

"He has spent that working as a cleaner and he has been employed as a listener although that has to be suspended at the moment because of the Covid issues in Durham.

"He understands he needs to be punished today."

Jane Foley, mitigating Damion McGann, said: "It's perhaps that this was a very short episode indeed.

"The defendant accepts fully that he is to receive an immediate term of imprisonment today.

"He has not found his time in the prison a pleasant one.

"I accept the defendant's position is aggravated by virtue of his previous convictions but I do invite the court to keep the sentence as short as possible in this case."

Both men, who were jailed in 2008 for leaving another victim with brain damage during a pub fight, both admitted assault causing grievous bodily harm and being in possession of an offensive weapon.

Lance McGann, of Copley Avenue, South Shields, was jailed for 30 months with an extended licence period of one year.

Brother Damion, Imeary Street, South Shields, was sentenced 30 months imprisonment.

Mr Recorder Ian Mullarkey told the pair: "This is was clearly a sustained assault.

"It is a matter of immense good fortune that the complainant was not more seriously injured.

"It was a determined effort by you both to administer a serious beating to him.

"In each case, it is aggravated by your previous convictions."

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