TWO hooded men burst into a Newport flat and attacked a man with a metal pole, a court heard.

Craig Goldworthy, 28, and Adam Graham, 23, repeatedly hit Paul Jones with the six-inch iron bar after he went to the front door in his dressing gown, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Mr Jones was punched, kicked, stamped on and hit with the pole inside the flat at Ennerdale Court, Old Barn Estate, on December 2, 2012, the court was told.

Mr Jones’ girlfriend, Rachelle Shaw, told a jury that she thought she was going to die as Graham punched her in the face, pulled her hair and locked her in a bedroom. Miss Shaw said: “Paul was trying his hardest not to go down. To be honest with you, I thought I was going to die.”

Mr Jones, 39, was taken to hospital with multiple lacerations to the head after he dialled 999.

Jurors heard Graham hatched the revenge plot after Mr Jones was arrested for allegedly stabbing his father, Michael Cornford.

Goldworthy had drunk a litre of rum, beer and vodka, prosecutor Matthew Roberts told the court. Graham and Goldworthy, both of no fixed address, were arrested after being seen running away from the flat at around noon on December 2 and a metal bar was recovered nearby, the jury heard.

Mr Jones had stitches for cuts to the scalp following the attack, said to have lasted up to 15 minutes.

The court heard Mr Jones had been arrested for allegedly stabbing Graham’s father as he watched TV at home on July 24, 2012, but was released without charge in what he described as a “case of mistaken identity”.

Graham and Goldworthy both deny one count of aggravated burglary and wounding with intent.

Goldworthy told police Graham asked him to go with him to the flat, and he picked up the metal pole when they arrived after Graham warned him they might get stabbed.

Goldworthy said Graham opened the door to the flat, and was punched by Mr Jones.

He told police he hit Mr Jones with the pole when Graham ended up wrestling him and thought he may have been stabbed.

Graham admitted common assault and unlawful imprisonment against Miss Shaw, and Goldworthy has already pleaded guilty to GBH against Mr Jones, the jury was told.

Proceeding.