A man who forced his way into a house in Great Notley and assaulted a couple inside has been jailed for three years and nine months.

Anthony Scott, 50, and another man, broke into a house in the Stanstrete Field area at around 8pm on Sunday, November 22, 2015.

The victims inside, a man and woman in their 50s, were punched, kicked and hit with a wooden table.

It had followed an incident in a pub in the town earlier in the day where the female victim had been verbally abused and threatened.

Scott was arrested on Monday, November 23, 2015.

The victims picked him out of an identification process and blood from one of them was found on his right boot.

Scott, 50, of The Green, Twinstead, was charged with burglary with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and criminal damage.

He was convicted of the charges on Friday, August 4 following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court and was jailed at the same court today for three years and nine months.

Another 50-year-old man was found not guilty of the charges against him.

Pc Paul Norman, investigating officer, said: “This was a really nasty incident and the victims could’ve sustained some very serious injuries.

“No-one should be subjected to an attack of this kind, let alone while in the comfort of their own home.

“It is galling that Anthony Scott was so comfortable using this level of violence and I am pleased he is now behind bars.

“I hope he will now use his time in prison to reflect on the consequences of his actions.

“I also want to praise the courage of the victims throughout the investigation and the court case and hope this sentence provides them with some solace.”