A HAMMER wielding attacker has been jailed for injuring two brothers - and permanently scarring one of them.

Billy Joe Michael Hannigan, 24, ran at the older brother, swung the weapon and struck him despite the victim trying to shield himself with his arms, said Benjamin Lake, prosecuting.

The victim’s mother and partner tried to intervene, screaming at Hannigan to stop, and both women were injured.

The man had to have 15 stitches inserted into his face and doctors did not yet know if he had nerve damage, the court heard.

“You could have killed him,” the Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, told Hannigan.

Mr Lake told York Crown Court: “There is permanent scarring.”

Earlier that day, Hannigan had attacked the hammer victim’s teenage younger brother as the youth waited for a bus. He had hit him from behind and punched him several times to the face, giving him two black eyes and other injuries, said Mr Lake.

The older brother and the two women had then gone in search of Hannigan.

The man later made a statement that he and Hannigan had had a “heated argument” and the 24-year-old had run off.

“It is clear something more took place in this incident than was disclosed by the witness statements,” said Mr Lake.

When he was arrested Hannigan had a broken wrist, a black eye, cuts and bruises.

Released on bail, Hannigan had sent a message via SnapChat offering £50 to have a relative of the brothers “set up”, said Mr Lake.

Hannigan, of Bar Lane, Hambleton, pleaded guilty to wounding the older brother on February 21, causing actual bodily harm to the younger, unlawful violence towards the two women, criminal damage to a car windscreen and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Hannigan was jailed for three years and made subject to a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting the brothers, both women and the relative.

He did not contest the order.

For him, Kristian Cavanagh said Hannigan was lucky he wasn’t facing more serious charges.

The attempt to have the relative set up was unsophisticated.

While remanded in custody, Hannigan had had time to reflect on his actions and was remorseful.

He had a good work ethic, and had shown that he could lead a law-abiding life, said Mr Cavanagh.

Mr Lake said the violence began between 8pm and 9pm when Hannigan attacked the teenager.

The older brother and the two women found Hannigan close to the bus stop. Afterwards, they returned to the older brother’s home. “He then saw the defendant running towards him with a hammer,” said Mr Lake.

Hannigan also smashed a nearby car windscreen causing damage costing £100 to £200.