A PAIR of brothers from Culmhead have been jailed for a revenge attack on a cyclist after he was rammed off his bike.

Jason Danes felled victim Russell Juniper with a headbutt and his older brother David knocked him senseless with a tyre wrench, Exeter Crown Court heard.

Stonemason Jason and chicken farm manager David had a long standing grudge against Mr Juniper, believing he burgled their caravan on a site in Somerset.

The brothers concocted a plan to get away with the attack by bullying a passenger in their car into blaming Mr Juniper for the violence.

But this backfired when he went to the police.

The court heard how David Danes also swindled a housebound disabled friend, who lost his life savings after lending David his Post Office card and PIN to buy some dog food.

David emptied the account of almost £4,000, leaving the elderly victim with nothing.

David Danes, 26, and Jason, 22, both of the Otterhead Caravan Park at Culmhead, near Taunton, admitted a total of 12 charges.

David admitted causing grievous bodily harm and nine counts of fraud and was jailed for a total of three years and five months.

Jason admitted causing actual bodily harm and witness intimidation and was jailed for two years and a month.

Sentencing, Judge Francis Gilbert, QC said: “This was a vicious attack by two on one. You used the car initially as a weapon and later a tyre brace.

“David Danes, you have also admitted nine counts of fraud against a man for whom you were an informal carer and who you had known for 20 years. He was disabled and housebound and living on his own.”

Jonathan Barnes, prosecuting, said Mr Juniper was cycling down a country lane between Dunkeswell and Hemyock when the brothers passed him in a 4x4 and recognised him.

They turned around and David, who was driving, knocked him off his bike by ramming him from behind.

As he tried to get up they got out and Jason headbutted him.

David then returned to the car to fetch the tyre lever which he used to hit Mr Juniper over the head and causing a wound which needed hospital treatment and five staples.

The attack was witnessed by a passenger in their car Kevin Parsons, who was confronted by Jason in Chard.

He was told to go to the police with a false story that Mr Juniper attacked the brothers after they stopped in the lane for Mr Parsons to answer a call of nature.

When interviewed both brothers came up with exactly the same story and they went on to claim self defence before changing their pleas on the morning of their trial a year ago.

Mr Barnes said the fraud was against a vulnerable man living near Danes who only realised all his money had been stolen when he got his monthly statement and found there was no money there.

Mr Simon Cooper, defending David Danes, said there was a background to the assault because he believed Mr Juniper had broken into his caravan with an axe.

He said the fraud was a mean offence but Danes should be given credit for helping look after the victim for many years.

He said David Danes is the father of two small children and could pay compensation from his wages as a chicken farm manager.

Mr James Taghdissian, defending Jason Danes, said his client had no previous record of violence and now has a stable job as a stone mason and building worker in North Curry