A DEFENDANT linked by his DNA to an incident where a gang attempted to force their way into a man’s home and assault him, has been jailed.

Daniel Webdell was sentenced to two years and eight months when he appeared at Swindon Crown Court on Friday.

He had admitted attempted burglary with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Anthony Bailey prosecuting, said the victim William Fisher had been at home in Park North on May 11, 2014, just after 10pm when there was a knock at the front door. When he asked who it was there was a muffled reply.

As he began to open it he felt it being forced against him. Alarmed, he put his shoulder to it and attempted to close it.

He caught a glimpse of two men in dark clothes and wearing full face balaclavas. He then heard a voice saying: “Get the knife and do him.”

Mr Bailey said: “As he closed the door he clearly injured one of the intruders because he heard a male voice scream.”

Seconds later he heard the screech of tyres.

Upstairs neighbour Philip Thomas went down to check Mr Fisher was OK found what he thought was a broken TV remote control on the threshold.

“This device was subsequently found to be a stun gun designed to discharge electricity, a prohibited weapon.”

Another neighbour, Tammy Duggan saw four men in what she thought were hoodies. One was wielding a two foot long pole.

They ran to a small car, jumped in and drove off at speed without headlights. One of the men was seen throwing something in the hedge. Police later recovered a towel with blood on it.

A couple of days later Ian Grant found blood spattered on his car. Mr Bailey said the towel and blood samples were both sent for DNA analysis and a match to the defendant was found.

Webdell, 29, of Marigold Close, was arrested on September 11 but stayed silent in interview.

Mr Bailey added Webdell’s previous convictions included an assault in 2008 on a stranger in his own home with a Samurai sword.

Rob Ross, defending, told the court: “It is true to say that since the commission of this offence over two years ago now, he has managed to set up a small business and he employs five people.”

Webdell’s firm was currently working on a contract for the City of London Airport.

He accepted the seriousness of the offence, saying: “I appreciate that it would be a very generous and lenient court that would in any way allow him his liberty today.”

The Crown could not say that he carried any weapon and it was clear that he was not the only person at the scene and he had told the probation service that he had been drinking on that night.

He suggested a two-year sentence suspended for two years, which would allow him to do unpaid work that would benefit the community and allow him to continue his own rehabilitation.

But Recorder Patrick Clarkson QC said: “At the end of the day I am forced into a position where it has to be custody and it is immediate. I do not consider there to be any alternative.”

He ordered that Webdell should serve up to half his sentence in custody and the remainder on licence.