TWO West Somerset men who broke into a Bridgwater man's flat and brutally attacked him have been jailed.

Danny Ashby, 21, of Forester Close, Williton and Joshua Perkins, 20, from Minehead but currently listed as no fixed abode, kicked in the door of the victim’s Bridgwater flat in January last year and proceeded to beat him so badly he needed surgery.

On the night of January 5, 2016, Perkins and Ashby turned up drunk at a flat in Phillip House, Bridgwater and knocked on the door, Taunton Crown Court heard.

Prosecuting, Caighli Taylor said Danny Ashby identified himself through the door but the victim, Mr Southby, did not let him in, not knowing who Ashby was.

"Ashby and Perkins then proceeded to kicked in the door which came totally off the frame. Perkins started shouting at Mr Southby saying he owed him money, and according to the victim he dragged him into the bedroom and ‘threw him around the room’ punching him several times," Miss Taylor said.

She said Ashby grabbed a glass and threw it at Mr Southby which missed and smashed on the wall behind him.

The court heard Ashby then kicked and stamped on Southby several times, he then grabbed a screwdriver and attempted to stab the victim four or five times before hitting him in the eye with the handle.

"The victim was taken to hospital with a black eye and nasty cuts to his torso," Miss Taylor said.

"The victim was left unable to breathe properly and required surgery on his broken nose which meant he had to take two weeks off from work."

Ashby was also sentenced for a second assault which occurred prior to the Bridgwater incident.

The court heard Ashby turned up at the house of Jake Davies in Watchet on September 11, 2015 at around 9pm after drinking.

Miss Taylor said: "He was let in by Jake’s mother and proceeded upstairs where he told Jake he had an argument with his younger brother and that he ‘owed him’.

"He went into Jake’s brother’s bedroom and grabbed a hammer that was on the side. Jake tried to confront Ashby and Ashby threatened him, saying ‘you have three seconds to get out of my way’," she said.

The two got into a fight and Ashby swung the hammer aiming for Jake’s face but he managed to duck out of the way, but Ashby then hit him on the back of the head with the hammer, the court heard.

Miss Taylor added Jake's mother wrenched the hammer off Ashby before calling the police.

Mr Davies was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital for treatment following the attack.

"His injuries caused him to have severe headaches which left him unable to concentrate on his university work for a number of weeks," Miss Taylor said.

Patrick Mason, defending Ashby, said: “He was only 20 when he committed this crime and his problems with offending are drink-related. 

"My concern is that with a lengthy custodial sentence at his age, he could become influenced by worse criminals and his yobbish behaviour may turn worse on release."

Sarah Bradbury, defending Perkins, said: "He has not offended since June last year and despite drink problems and homelessness has been doing his unpaid work." 

Sentencing, Recorder Malcolm Galloway said: “ Mr Ashby, in your attack on Mr Davies it was only by luck that his injuries were not more serious. 

"You attacked him in his home, late in the evening, with a weapon while under the influence of alcohol.

"This second attack by the two of you again was under the influence of alcohol, again used a weapon, again at night, again in someone’s home only this time you broke in and this was a sustained attack."

Both were sentenced to two years in jail for ABH with Ashby receiving a consecutive 14-month sentence for the assault of Mr Davies.