THUGS Ashley Quelch and River Moroney have been jailed after they attacked a man who shouted at them when he thought he saw them trying to rob some younger boys.

Quelch, of Crosswood Road, Park South and Moroney, who gave the court an address in Bath, burst into the Chris Plumb’s home and set about him with a dog chain earlier this year.

Now, after ruling the 18-year-olds, who each have a history of violent crime, pose a significant risk of serious harm in future a judge has imposed extended sentences.

That means they will only be released from their four year 28-week jail terms when the parole board thinks it is safe.

They also cannot apply for be freed until they have served two thirds of the sentence and they will then have an extra three years added on to their licence.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court they launched the violent, drunken attack in broad daylight.

At 4pm on Thursday, April 9, Mr Plumb was at his partner’s home in Stubsmead and the defendants were in the street. They had stopped two younger lads and were going through their pockets when he told them stop.

They went to his front door and started kicking at it, and when he told them to go away they punched and kicked him.

They also shouted: ‘I’m going to rape your missus,’ and ‘We’ll be back later...’ before the victim got up and went in, locking the door behind him.

About three minutes later they kicked the door off its hinges and threatened him, one repeating: ‘We’re going to rape your baby mother,’ Moroney handed Quelch a dog chain saying ‘use that on him.’

Mr Plumb managed to grab a children’s scooter to deflect the blows and suffered minor injuries.

As the attack was taking place his partner and her two children were screaming in terror as they looked on.

Miss Squire said when a neighbour shouted she had called the police they stopped, but still hung about telling officers they were acting in self-defence.

She said “Mr Plumb feared neighbours would be too scared to make statements for fear of reprisals. He was wrong about two: they did come forward and make statements.”

She said the incident in Eldene came two days after they had issued threats while kicking at another door in a row over a bike.

Quelch and Moroney each admitted aggravated burglary and threatening behaviour.

The court heard both men had been involved numerous violent incidents in the past.

Moroney, who two years ago was part of the gang who robbed some younger kids in Wroughton on Halloween, was on a conditional discharge for possessing a knife.

Quelch, who has a previous aggravated burglary on his record, was on a suspended sentence for assaulting his girlfriend at the time of the incident.

Rob Ross, for Moroney, said his client had a terrible upbringing and at one stage was living a ‘feral’ existence and was now sorry for what he had done.

Gareth James, for Quelch, said he showed remorse and was back with the girlfriend who he had assaulted and she is now pregnant.

Jailing them Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "So far as the aggravated burglary is concerned Chris Plumb was just doing what any law abiding person would do.

"He shouted to you two to stop what appeared to be an attempt to rob or to steal from two teenage boys that you were picking on, and that was what gave rise to the extreme reaction and totally unreasonable reaction that resulted in him being injured in the way he was by you two.

"Your reaction to being rebuked in that way, if that is the right phrase, was to go to his home intent on assaulting him seriously.

"That perhaps is an indication of how you thought you could treat other people and react to other people who dared to interfere with what you were doing.

"I can't overlook that fact that it appears the two of you have a reputation in the area. You commit violent crime in the area. Hanging out with others drinking and smoking.

"There is evidence people in the area fear violence from you and fear repercussions from you."

After the hearing, Detective Constable Mike Armishaw, of Wiltshire Police, said: “The evidence gathered with the assistance of the local community was no doubt the reason why these two teenagers pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

“I am pleased with the sentence given out today – this was a disgraceful act of violence in broad daylight.

"Both offenders were intent on causing serious harm to the victim in front of his partner and two young children, who, had he not been able to defend himself during the attack, would have undoubtedly suffered more serious injuries than he did.”