A GANG of four who launched an horrific attack on a mother and her son after a Valentine's night out have been sent to jail.

Joanne Roberts, her partner Robert Hunter, Adam Fox and Karen Taylor gave Kathleen Murphy and her son Michael a "thorough beating" during a four hour period in the early hours of the morning, Swindon Crown Court was told.

The group ran into Mrs Murphy at a nightclub on February 15 and took her home to Roberts and Hunter's home in Pembroke Gardens, Moredon. From there Roberts called Mrs Murphy's son at 3.20am telling him to come round. After he arrived at 4am the pair were subjected to a litany of violence which did not end until 8am.

Christopher Quinlan, prosecuting, told the court that Taylor, who lived next door to Roberts and Hunter in Pembroke Gardens, had a short-lived affair with Michael Murphy at the start of last year. When that ended he was ordered out of her home, but she claimed he still owed about £80 in rent arrears.

He said Roberts landed the first punch on Mrs Murphy. When Michael Murphy came through the front door he was set on by all four. At one point Hunter put his foot on Mrs Murphy's head as she lay unconscious on the floor and stood on her with all of his weight for about a minute.

All four, who are aged 29 except for Fox, 30, of Crayford Close, admitted two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Roberts was jailed for two and a half years, Fox for two years, Hunter for 18 months and Taylor for one year.

Judge Tom Longbotham told them: "It is difficult to imagine what Mrs Murphy and her son were going through for that four hours. At times you were not only enjoying yourselves but making it clear to them that you were enjoying yourselves."