THREE people have been jailed for attacking a man and his partner with a hammer and a baseball bat at their Colchester flat.

Carly Cox, Chase Cox and Joe Wilkinson, all from Colchester, were sentenced to a total of three years and 10 months in prison for the attack on Shaun Collier and Elianna Beswick.

Chase Cox, 20, of Pebmarsh Close, was found guilty of affray and causing actual bodily against Mr Collier.

Wilkinson, 22, of Cherry Tree Lane, Blackheath, 22, and Carly Cox, 25, of Aerofoil Grove, Tuffnell Way, were both found guilty of affray and actual bodily harm against Ms Beswick.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard there were two children sleeping at Mr Collier’s flat in Granary Court, Hythe Quay, Colchester, when the trio arrived on January 3, at 10pm.

As Mr Collier opened the door, Chase Cox swung a hammer at his head. It struck his face and he fell to the ground.

The group burst into the house and Wilkinson struck Miss Beswick with a baseball bat while Carly Cox punched her and pulled her hair.

As Mr Collier fled and shut himself in the sitting room, Chase Cox pursued him and beat at the door with a hammer.

Mr Collier called the police and the trio fled.

The attack was in revenge after Mr Collier and Miss Beswick visited the home of Wilkinson’s girlfriend in Handel Walk, Colchester, the court was told.

The couple told Wilkinson to pay a £20 drugs debt and took a bike.

George Goldstaub QC said: “Wilkinson was humiliated. He got his cronies, the two Cox’s, and engaged in a revenge attacked.”

David Wilson, prosecuting, said Carly Cox had 11 previous convictions, eight of which were for assault or battery.

Defending, Emma Nash said Carly Cox had endured a troubled upbringing and been in care.

Judge Goldstaub said: “Custody is inevitable to mark the gravity of these offences as people will take the law into their own hands with impunity.”

He sentenced Wilkinson to one year in prison for actual bodily harm and affray. Carly Cox got 18 months in total for actual bodily harm and affray.

Chase Cox got 15 months in total, plus an extra month for breaching a suspended sentence, and a year’s drink driving ban for a previous offence.