A JUDGE has refused to jail two brothers who took revenge on a man who burgled their sick mother's home.

And today the defiant pair said: "We were only trying to protect our mam".

Judge Stephen Hopkins said the burglary that occurred was of the worst possible type and Jason Goodwin had taunted one of them.

Neil Evans, 19, of Llanerch Road, Trinant, a man with no previous convictions and David Evans, 21, of Belvedere Close, Trinant, each admitted wounding Mr Goodwin.

Neil Evans was sentenced to a community rehabilitation order for two years and his brother received a similar sentence.

The judge said: "The right course to take causes me great concern. By taking one course I'd be sending completely the wrong message. On the other hand I have to balance the unique circumstances of the case."

He said that on a proper construction of the evidence it was not as clear cut a case of vigilante justice as first appeared.

He added: "If the public thinks that those who take the law into their own hands escape punishment it is a step towards anarchy. But in this case I'm taking an exceptional course."

Prosecutor Byron Broadstock said that on September 13 the defendants mother's home was burgled and a PlayStation and games were stolen.

On September 18 Mr Goodwin was walking in a field and the two brothers approached him. One of them became involved in a struggle and another struck him with a length of wood.

At one point all three fell over a wall.

He bled heavily from cuts to the forehead and was unable to stand up.

Jeannet Treharne for Neil Evans said the victim had a criminal record for offences including burglary, criminal damage and shoplifting.

"It is my case that Goodwin was the burglar with others. It is not attractive but this was retribution."

Anthony Vines for David Evans described him as a "temperate, gentle man who helped his family".

"He does have problems with anger management and he was angry about this burglary. The ultimate victim was his mother who had to go to hospital because of it."

A local resident, Valerie Bessant said the community was a close one "and everyone knew everyone."

Mr Goodwin, he said, had admitted committing burglaries to fund his drugs habit and had sneered at and goaded the defendants.