TWO brothers attacked a neighbour who they thought had assaulted their young brother, a court was told last Friday (Dec 1).

The Hankin brothers, Benjamin, 22, and Callum, 21, pushed James Pearce to the ground and broke a window at his home.

Kate Prince, prosecuting, told Salisbury magistrates there was ill-feeling between the two Trowbridge families.

On May 13, the Hankins’ younger brother came home and claimed he had been assaulted by Jimmy Pearce.

The elder brothers immediately went round to their neighbour’s house and demanded to see him.

When he came out, they pushed him to the ground. Benjamin Hankin also banged on a window so hard it broke.

Mr Pearce suffered an injury causing soreness during the assault after falling to the ground.

Benjamin Hankin and Callum Hankin, both of Westfield Road, Trowbridge, both admitted offences of jointly assaulting James Pearce on May 13.

Benjamin Hankin also admitted causing criminal damage to the window, worth £241.62, belonging to Selwood Housing.

The court was told the Hankin brothers had previous convictions imposed by a Hampshire court for an assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Nick Redhead, defending, said the Hankin brothers had shouted and sworn at James Pearce after going round to his house.

The brothers both live with their mother and have jobs in a cheese-making factory.

Magistrates fined each brother £66, with £35 costs and a £30 victim surcharge. Benjamin Hankin was ordered to pay £241 compensation to Selwood Housing.

The court did not make a separate order for compensation to Mr Pearce, after being told it would create further friction between the two families.

They did, however, make a collection order for the fines, costs and victim surcharge.