A PAIR of cousins who launched a violent drunken attack on a couple as they made their way home from a wedding have been jailed between them for more than four years..

Paul Morse and Lee Page had been drinking heavily when they tried to rob their victims as they walked home through west Swindon.

Page, 22, repeatedly kicked Luke Jacobs to the face during the late night attack, while 20-year-old Morse punched Bethany Rendell as she tried to save her boyfriend.

Michael Shaw, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the incident took place in the early hours of October 27 last year.

He said the couple were walking past The Holbeins in Grange Park as they made their way home from the reception when they spotted the defendants ahead of them.

The men were ‘horse fighting’ with each other in a drunken manner before they noticed their victims.

“They then stopped, turned and approached the victims and started shouting things like ‘Oi blood, stop’ and ‘What have you got?’,” Mr Shaw said.

The couple realised there was going to be trouble and Mr Jacob told them ‘I’m out with my girlfriend, leave us alone,’ as the cousins ran towards them.

Morse threw the first punch, which missed, before Page pushed him into a thorn bush and rained punches on him, though he fought back and got Morse on to the ground.

“Miss Rendell was screaming and trying to defend him,” he said. “Mr Jacob saw Morse strike her to the left side of the face, knocking her to her knees. He went to defend her but Morse struck her again to the face.”

Mr Shaw said the girl’s screams were heard by nearby police officers who had been called to another matter and as they arrived the attackers fled.

When they were questioned they both said they were so drunk they could not recall what had taken place. Morse, of Cottington Close, Freshbrook, admitted two counts of assault with intent to rob, and Page, of East Street, pleaded guilty to one.

Tony Bignall, for Page, said: “The matter is serious but is one for which he feels utter remorse and horror.”

He said his client, who did not plead guilty until the day of trial, was to become a father soon and he hoped he would also be able to find work if he is not jailed.

Rob Ross, for Morse, said his client had admitted what he had done at the first opportunity and ‘can't really explain how he became involved in this’.

Until recently he said he had been working at Honda, through an agency, and living with his partner and child.

Judge Tim Mousley QC said: “This was a vicious assault. It was sustained using fists and feet with robbery in mind and you were both involved jointly.

“The impact on both the victims was significant."

He sentenced Page to two-and-a-half years and Morse two years and three months.