All four were handed suspended sentences at Warwick Crown Court after pleading guilty to affray
An ill-tempered dispute over money owed for some vehicle parts escalated into violence when one man turned up at a farm with back-up to settle the score.
During the incident that followed a father and son were both assaulted and a number of vehicles were damaged – including one which was run through with the forks of a fork-lift truck.
After the attack at the farm in Knightcote, near Southam, four men appeared at Warwick Crown Court charged with violent disorder, but pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of affray.
Phyllip Cotton, 34, of Frobisher Road, Rugby, who was behind the attack, was sentenced to 22 months in prison suspended for two years and was ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.
Steven Merrick, 38, of Chesford Crescent, Warwick; Sam Vernon, 27, of Lakin Drive, Bishops Itchington; and Christopher Cunningham, 33, of Marlborough Road, Rugby, were all sentenced to 19 months suspended for two years, with 150 hours of unpaid work.
In addition, each of them was ordered to pay £250 compensation to one of their victims, Andrew Parker, £100 to his father Dennis Parker and £100 costs.
Judge Andrew Lockhart QC told the four: "In my judgement this offence is so serious that only a sentence of custody is justified. The real question is whether I can suspend it.
"This is a serious offence of its type, and it is by a hair’s breadth that I am persuaded I can suspend the sentences. All four of you are very lucky."
News stories are often edited for length and relevance, to read the original just click on the newspaper logo above.
