A MAN was stamped on and battered with a hammer, metal chair leg and cosh during a terrifying attack in his girlfriend’s home.

Paul Gauchi was also struck and strangled with a weightlifting belt as a gang of yobs went on a violent rampage.

The 34-year-old suffered fractures to both hands, a broken left wrist and a fractured left foot as well as two deep cuts to his head.

Six people involved in the August disturbance in Redcar were jailed yesterday, along with a seventh who tried to get a witness to change her story.

Aaron Owston, Benjamin Lancaster and Marcus Appleby, all 20, and a girl of 17 who cannot be named, admitted grievous bodily harm with intent.

Andrew Bywater pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, and his brother Jamie, 20, admitted attempting to pervert the course of public justice.

Owston also admitted a burglary at the flat days earlier and the theft of a ring, while his 48-year-old father, Carl Owston, pleaded guilty to affray.

The teenager admitted assaulting Mr Gauchi’s partner, Katalin Feher, causing a split lip, and stealing food and hair straighteners from the Queen Street flat.

The girl – said by Judge Howard Crowson to have joined in in “a fairly enthusiastic way” – was sentenced to a two-year detention and training order.

Owston was jailed for seven years and nine months, while Appleby and Lancaster were each locked up for five years for the prolonged attack.

Andrew Bywater got 12 months, his brother 26 weeks, and Carl Owston received eight months.

Defence barristers said those involved in the brutal assault were ashamed and blamed the behaviour on their intake of valium and alcohol.

Teesside Crown Court heard how offshore fitter Andrew Bywater tried to get the others to stop, saying: “Leave him, he’s had enough.”

Emma Atkinson, prosecuting, said one witness heard him tell the others: “Someone should phone an ambulance or we’ll be facing a murder charge.”

Days later, Jamie Bywater telephoned a witness and asked her to tell police his brother had not been at the scene.

Judge Crowson told the defendants, all from Redcar: “It seems to me it is very clear this is a violent, prolonged attack, with weapons used.”

The Owstons, both of Queen Street; Lancaster and Jamie Bywater, both of Charlotte Street; Andrew Bywater, of West Dyke Road; and Appleby, of Fitzwilliam Street, all have convictions for violence.