A GROUP of balaclava-wearing attackers who forced their way into a city flat wielding baseball bats, metal poles and a BB gun have been sentenced.

In the dock at Winchester Crown Court today, the five men were given prison sentences ranging from 18 months to more than three years.

It comes after the group had all pleaded guilty to violent disorder following the attack at a flat in Rolfe's Court, Gigant Street, Salisbury on April 3 last year.

Davies also pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm.

As reported, the men forced their way into the flat and threatened the occupants, before stealing an expensive piece of jewellery.

They all had their faces covered with balaclavas and were carrying bats and metal poles.

The longest term was given to Michael Christopher Davies who shot another man in the chest with the BB gun, leaving him with a mark on his skin. The 31-year-old, of Endless Street, Salisbury was given three years and four months behind bars.

As well as him, Steven Chas Richards, 26, of Gas Lane, Salisbury was sentenced to two years and three months, and Korie David Lennard, 21, currently at HMP Bullingdon was given 18 months – which will start today.

The other members of the group Daniel Christopher Gall, 21, of Partridge Way, Old Sarum and Dylan Scott Lucas, 24, of Hazel Close, Bemerton Heath were both sentenced to 18 months in jail, suspended for two years, as well as 100 hours unpaid work.

Det Con Toni Nugent, from Salisbury CID, said: "The offenders wore balaclavas and were carrying bats and metal poles as well as a BB gun when they forced their way into the flat in the early hours of the morning.

"It was ascertained that the offenders knew some of the victims and had deliberately targeted them. It was an extremely frightening experience for all the victims."