TWO men were assaulted and terrorised in their own homes by a “swaggering” gang, including a man from Kingswood, armed with knives and imitation pistols, a court heard yesterday.

One of the victims was 'pistol-whipped' and the other had his flat trashed by bullying Leon Davis, 22, and James Taplin, 19, who were accompanied by a 17-year-old, Gloucester Crown Court was told.

Davis and Taplin were both armed and threatening during the two incidents on February 7, said the judge, recorder Don Tait.

He jailed Davis, a schizophrenic, of no fixed address, for three and a half years and sentenced Taplin, of Nind Lane, Kingswood, to three years in a young offender institution.

The youth, from Leeds, was made subject to a one-year referral order.

Recorder Tait told Davis and Taplin: "It is unclear precisely what the motive was for this offending.

"Fortunately the injuries you caused were not of the most serious but it is serious that the two of you were swaggering about the streets of Gloucestershire behaving like gangsters armed with knives and imitation firearms and bullying and threatening people in the process."

All three defendants pleaded guilty to assaulting two Coleford, causing them actual bodily harm.

They also pleaded guilty to criminally damaging a door, bed, chest of drawers, bookcase, electricity meter, bedside light and window.

Taplin also admitted being in possession of a knife, on Spout Lane, Coleford, on the same date.

Prosecutor Robert Morgan-Jones said Davis had been a resident of the same housing complex as one of the men but had been evicted after an earlier incident.

But he returned there with the two other defendants and they were seen drinking from several bottles of brandy.

They left the area for a while and returned later - but while they were away they had gone to another home nearby, possibly to try to buy cannabis, and had barged in and confronted a man, the prosecutor said.

"Taplin produced a black imitation pistol. It was pointed at Mr Jones, causing him to feel intimidated and frightened. Davis told the 17-year-old to lock the front door. "

Mr Morgan-Jones said Davis then threatened to kill Mr Jones' dog - and produced a knife with a 6-7" blade from a bag he was carrying.

The man was then assaulted by Taplin and Davis. The defendants then all returned to the previous address.

The court heard that there was already 'bad blood' between the victim and Davis, who he blamed for getting him evicted a week earlier.

The victim said that he saw that Davis had a black pistol which looked real. But he was aware Davis likes replica BB guns so was not too worried.

Mr Morgan-Jones said Taplin and the youth then followed the victim, who went back to his own flat, and told him “this is what happens to snitches”.

He was punched and fled the premises - but later found that his flat had been trashed.

"The door had been kicked off its hinges. Davis threw a bottle of wine at the window and it smashed. The electric sockets were ripped from the walls. The bed and TV were smashed. Shaving foam was spread around the room. It was all trashed beyond recognition," said the prosecutor.

He had to move out of the flat while it was repaired. He was also treated for concussion and a wound to the head.

The first victim, who suffered a cut and swelling to the head and cuts on his collarbone, stated that he now feared the attackers would return when his girlfriend was with him and he was worried for her safety as well as his own.

Mr Morgan-Jones said Davis had made nine previous court appearances for 15 offences including robbery and aggravated burglary. Taplin had made 8 appearances for 17 offences.

Jason Coulter, for Davis, said he had suffered psychotic symptoms for some time but had only recently been diagnosed schizophrenic. Before the diagnosis he had been 'medicating himself' with cannabis and alcohol.

For Taplin, Sarah Jenkins said he had made the best of his time on remand in custody since February and had passed tests in English, Maths, Health and Safety and multi-media. He had also done training to be a barista and a bricklayer.

"While in custody he has missed the birth of a nephew and the death and funeral of his grandmother," she added.

"He feels he has now spent too much of his life in prison and he needs to draw a line under it and move on."