TWO brothers who sprayed their victim with ammonia before stabbing him in the back during a revenge attack were sentenced to more than nine years in custody.

Joshua Jones, 24, and Luke Jones, 20, both of Maesglas Crescent, Newport, pleaded guilty to wounding Levy Barrington Timmins with intent during a “joint enterprise”.

They were sentenced by the Record of Cardiff, Judge Eleri Rees, who handed Joshua a prison term of five years and four months while Luke was sent to a young offender institution for four years.

The pair, who both wept during the proceedings, also admitted to having offensive weapons, an asp and a knife, and a prohibited weapon, the ammonia.

Their getaway driver was Joshua’s girlfriend, Katie Smith, 19, from Leach Road in the Bettws area of the Newport, who was sentenced to a two-year community order and 80 hours of unpaid work.

She pleaded guilty to one count of having an offensive weapon, one charge of having a prohibited weapon and also having an article with a bladed point.

Prosecutor David Pugh told Cardiff Crown Court how the victim was on Newport’s Maesglas Road on May 1 this year when he was set upon by the brothers.

He said the incident was sparked by bad feeling between the siblings and the complainant who had once been friends.

They had fallen out, the court heard, because Luke was seeing a girlfriend who was friendly with Mr Timmins.

Mr Pugh said that police officers had earlier attended the brothers’ home over reports that “armed persons” were trying to force their way in and that some damage was done.

CCTV footage of the assault on Mr Timmins was shown to Judge Rees in which the victim could be seen wearing a helmet after parking his motorbike.

Smith drove the black Vauxhall Corsa towards him before the Jones brothers jumped out of the car

Joshua sprayed the ammonia in Mr Timmins’ face before stabbing him in the back.

The victim managed to get away before the defendants left in the car with Smith nearly driving over the complainant’s bike.

He was taken to the city’s Royal Gwent Hospital for treatment for two wounds to his back, one of which needed stitches.

The court heard Mr Timmins suffered no permanent injury from the ammonia apart from it stinging his eyes and making it difficult for him to breathe during the attack.

Mr Pugh said Joshua had 23 previous convictions for 41 offences, including custodial sentences for possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and battery in 2011 and a two-year jail term for a robbery at a Subway in 2016.

His current conviction was committed while he was on licence after being released from prison for the robbery.

He added that Luke has three previous convictions for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and driving offences. Smith was of previous clean character.

Claire Pickthall, mitigating for Joshua, told the judge: “On May 1, there was a degree of provocation. When the police arrived at the defendant’s house, all the windows had been smashed.

“The ground floor windows had been smashed with some force.

“This was a revenge attack. The victim didn’t deserve what he got – I’m not suggesting that – but I would ask your ladyship to put it into some sort of context.”

She added of Joshua: “He is very protective of his mother and brother, having lost his father at a young age.”

Peter Donnison, representing Luke, said he had made an early guilty plea and had a “very limited record”.

He added: “This is a very sad case. This is someone who had his full life before him and was towards the end of his apprenticeship as a carpenter.”

It was heard in mitigation for Smith that she had no idea an attack was due to take place until the violence erupted.

She was also ordered to pay £535 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge.

The brothers must also pay the surcharge upon their release from custody.