Two violent brothers have been jailed after a woman and her partner were hit with a baseball bat during a vicious attack.
The woman briefly lost consciousness after being struck in the face and legs by her ex-partner, 32-year-old Mitchell Burton, who also repeatedly hit her new partner with the weapon.
Both of his wrists were broken as he tried to shield his head and face during the savage attack, which took place at Holiday Hills Park in Kirkby-in-Ashfield at around 8.45pm on 14 April this year.
His other injuries included a fractured knee and a cut to his head.
His partner suffered a black eye, swelling and bruising, and an injury to her leg.
Before fleeing the scene, Mitchell Burton smashed the windows and windscreen of a Vauxhall Vectra belonging to the male victim.
His younger brother, 21-year-old Keenan Burton, was also involved in the brutal attack.
While it was accepted that he didn’t use a weapon, he knew his older brother was armed and knew what was going to happen.
The court heard it was a ‘revenge attack’ linked to a previous assault.
Both were swiftly located and arrested following the incident and were subsequently charged.
They initially denied the offences, denied taking any weapons with them and denied premeditation.
However, phone evidence obtained by lead investigators in the case, including call data showing the brothers on the phone for 19 minutes as they drove to the location of the offence, proved to be key.
During their searches, Kirkby police officers found a baseball bat at the brothers’ home address in the early hours of 15 April, which had been discarded in shrubbery in the back garden.
Data extracted from Mitchell Burton’s phone showed he had taken a photo of this bat around two and a half hours before the attack and sent it to his brother, followed by messages making reference to using it on the victims’ heads.
The phone evidence gathered left the brothers with no choice but to plead guilty to a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on the male victim.
Mitchell Burton, of Betts Avenue, Hucknall, also pleaded guilty to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on his ex-partner, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and causing criminal damage.
He was jailed for four years and eight months when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Friday (2 October).
Keenan Burton, also of Betts Avenue, was locked up for three years and four months.
Both brothers were also made subject to seven-year restraining orders.
Police Staff Investigator Safha Iqbal, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a brutal and sustained attack on a vulnerable woman and her partner, which involved a baseball bat being used with significant force, causing serious injuries.
“Our investigation and the evidence we uncovered showed there was planning involved in this vicious assault by the brothers.
“Violence of this sort will not be tolerated in our communities, and anyone responsible for assaults of this nature can expect a robust response from the force and, ultimately, a spell behind bars.
“I hope the victims are now able to move on from their horrific ordeal.
“After being informed of the guilty pleas, the woman contacted me to say how grateful they both were for everything we did for them during our investigation.
“I hope this case demonstrates our commitment to investigating such crimes and bringing those responsible for violence to account.”
