A JUDGE has today jailed two brothers for smashing up a car in a terrifying armed attack when a family feud erupted into violence.

Jason and Wayne Dixon rounded on their brother-in-law Robert Brogan after simmering tensions reached boiling point last summer.

Teesside Crown Court heard that three car loads of others turned up on the scene in Middlesbrough and joined in the wrecking spree.

Mr Brogan's car was written off after the attack and he ended up with a cut head after being hit with a road sign thrown by Jason Dixon.

Dixon, 35, was also armed with a hammer, and his 32-year-old brother had an axe which he threw at Mr Brogan during the disturbance.

The court heard that there was bad blood between the men following the death of the Dixons' parents and a dispute over their estate.

Defence lawyers said tension was also caused by Mr Brogan - married to the Dixons' sister, Andrea - trying to take over as head of the family.

Peter Wishade, for Wayne Dixon, said Mr Brogan had also made disparaging remarks about a young relative who is wheelchair-bound.

Duncan McReddie, for Jason Dixon, described the incident as a "blip" in his recent progress, "prompted by deep-seated family turmoil".

He said: "Jason Dixon was not responsible for summoning those individuals to the scene. He was perfectly prepared to resolve the family dispute himself, albeit in a way the courts thoroughly disapprove of.

"With the benefit of hindsight, he can see that his loss of temper was wholly inappropriate."

Mr Wishlade said of Wayne Dixon: "He accepts that his behaviour was reprehensible."

The court heard that he was on bail for the August 17 trouble when he was involved in another violent incident just a month later.

After punching his wife in the street, he climbed onto a house roof, ripped up tiles and threw them down and assaulted a police officer.

Mr Wishlade said Dixon was shot with a Tasar stun-gun, fell from the roof to the ground and was in a coma in hospital for five days.

Dixon, whose address was given as Holme House Prison after being recalled on licence, admitted affray and criminal damage.

His elder brother, of Deepdale Avenue, Middlesbrough, admitted the same charges as well as assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Both men were jailed for 12 months after Judge Moorhouse told them: "This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated."