Children screamed as man beat up neighbour

A thug who beat up a neighbour with a chain, knuckleduster and baseball bat in front of children has been jailed for 10 years.

Lance Simon and others smashed their way into the home of victim Stuart Lyus in Cade Road, Ashford in March last year.

As children and women screamed in fear, the 28-yearold laid into his neighbour in a vicious attack which left the victim with 20 injuries.

A jury at Canterbury Crown Court took eight hours before convicting Simon of wounding with intent – and acquitting a second man. Both had denied the charge.

Judge Simon Lowe told him: “This was a vicious attack which lasted for half a minute in his own home and in front of women and children who were about to have a house party.”

The court heard how the men had burst into the house armed with weapons – and the victim was left with chain marks along his body.

The attack took place “within inches” of terrified children and women as blows rained down on Mr Lyus.

The court heard that the two families live in the same street and there had been bad blood between them.

But the Judge told Simon: “You wouldn’t wish this upon your own family but you visited upon Mr Lyus in his own home using weapons.”

A third man, marketing manager Jason Butler, 31, formerly of Ashford and now Crawley, was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and pay his victim £300 after he had admitted common assault at an earlier hearing.

Judge Lowe told him that because of his previous convictions and his inability to obey court orders “I am sur- prised to hear you have such a good job.”

‘This was a vicious attack in front of women and children who were about to have a house party’