A father and son who took the law into their own hands when they burst into the home of neighbours as they slept have walked free from court.

Paul and Danny Frankham launched the violent vigilante attack because they were upset at the lack of prosecution of the victim for an alleged assault.

Following a night of drinking 63-year-old grandfather Paul smashed his way into the Watchfield home of Brian and Dawn Selwood.

And he was followed by his son Daniel, 42, who joined the violence biting Mr Selwood so hard he drew blood, Swindon Crown Court heard.

But after hearing both men had been out of trouble for a long time and the terrifying raid was out of character a judge imposed suspended sentences.

Pushpanjali Gohil, prosecuting, said the Selwoods were asleep in bed shortly before midnight on Saturday December 14, 2013.

"They heard a loud bang and two people walked into their bedroom. The female occupant had just got out of bed," she said.

"There was then what ,must have been a terrifying altercation in which Brian Selwood was manhandled as he tried to protect his wife.

"He was punched and kicked to the ground. It was still pitch black at that point. He could hear a lot of shouting and screaming.

"The light was then turned on and a male known to the victim as Danny Frankham was lying on the floor next to him.

"At that point he saw the father Paul Frankham standing in the doorway. Paul Frankham came across and started to punch the victim. Danny also bit the victim in the upper right arm, shoulder area."

Miss Gohil said Danny's wife Helen then appeared and one witness said she was encouraging the attackers and other told how she pulled them back.

Mrs Selwood managed to get to a neighbour's house and call the police, seeing her home had been ransacked as she went.

"Mr Frankham senior was frank with the police when he was arrested. The first thing he said was he had to deal with some trash," Miss Gohil said.

" He said they had received some news today that the police had dropped a case and he felt like he had to take matters into his own hands.

"He said it was what any granddad would do if his granddaughter had been pinned against a wall by Brian Selwood."

Daniel Frankham, of Maiden's Close, Watchfield, and his father both admitted causing actual bodily harm on Brian Selwood.

Paul, of Barrington Road, Watchfield, also pleaded guilty to common assault on Dawn and burglary.

Rob Ross, for Paul, said his client had not been in trouble for more than forty years and the offence was out of character.

"He felt Mr Selwood had got away with a violent incident involving his 15-year-old granddaughter," he said.

"I submit this was an offence committed on the spur of the moment by a man whose mind was blurred by drink."

Mark Sharman, for Danny, said his client was a family man who also raced motorbikes and accepted the incident must have been terrifying for the victims.

He said though he accepts he should not have been there he only bit the man because he was on top of him in the melee.

Passing sentence Judge Peter Blair QC said: "I hope you understand that the crown court regards this sort of vigilante taking of the law into your own hands so seriously that people go to prison conventionally for this sort of behaviour.

"What makes it so much worse is you broke in to someone's home in the order to wreak your vengeance for something you thought had not been properly dealt with."

But he said as there had been no further problems and it was out of character he would imposed 12-month jail terms suspended for two years.

He told Paul to do 200 hours and Danny 250 hours of unpaid work, each pay £250 compensation and £100 surcharge and Paul £150 costs and Danny £250.