TWO drinkers who terrified a man when they turned up on his doorstep armed with wooden batons have been sent to prison.

Shawn Willshaw and William Finney admitted they had been drinking before an aggravated burglary in Chesterton on November 2.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard yesterday that the pair turned up unannounced at a house party in Porthill at about 9.30pm that night.

One of the guests, Ashley Capewell, had refused to shake Finney's hand when he was trying to strike up a conversation, but the group still shared a taxi to Rowley Avenue, in Chesterton.

Once it had been paid for, Willshaw punched Mr Capewell and then kicked him in the head.

Finney intervened and Mr Capewell ran away.

Not long after, the pair turned up on the doorstep of Stuart Williams's home, in Victoria Street, Chesterton, who told them to go away.

Fiona Cortese, prosecuting, said: "A section of the door was kicked through and Mr Finney entered the room carrying a wooden baton.

"He struck Mr Williams's face.

"Mr Willshaw entered and he swung it at Mr Williams several times."

The defendants fled when they heard the sound of police sirens.

Mr Williams was left with "nasty" injuries.

Willshaw, aged 22, of Heath Street, Chesterton, had already pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and breaching an anti-social behaviour order which banned him from entering Victoria Street.

He was on licence at the time of the offences.

Finney, also aged 22, who lives in Victoria Avenue, Miles Green, had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary.

Rachel Thompson, defending Willshaw, said: "He is a very young man and knows he is immature."

She added: "He wants to make a change."

Nicola Bell, defending Finney, said: "He accepts his behaviour was unacceptable.

"He is now trying to associate with different people.

"Up until now, he has been a reasonably up-standing member of society."

A letter from Finney's mother was handed to the judge and the court was told he had the support of his mother and girlfriend, although they did not condone his actions.

Judge Granville Styler said to the defendants: "You both entered his property with weapons and while in the property, serious bodily harm was inflicted on Stuart Williams.

"It was a terrifying experience for him and he received nasty injuries."

Willshaw, who Judge Styler deemed to be a danger to the public, was given an extended sentence of eight years' custody with an extended licence period of four years.

He was given another two years, to run concurrent, for each of the other two offences.

Finney was sentenced to five years and four months in prison.

Both men will serve a maximum of half their sentence with the rest on licence.