A YOUNG dad acted like a ‘vigilante’ to seek revenge by attacking a couple in front of their son with a metal baseball bat, a court heard.

Dexter Campbell, 21 appeared at Mold Crown Court on July 14 after he assaulted a couple in their home on February 24 last year.

The 21-year-old was charged with two counts of assault, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and causing criminal damage.

Campbell, with an accomplice, assaulted Gary Price and his partner Emma Green after his brother was told off by Mr Price for throwing a snowball at their window.

Myles Wilson, prosecuting, told the court that Campbell, of Llys Penuel, Rhos, Wrexham, had an ‘amicable discussion’ with Mr Price two weeks before returning at his home address with an unknown male.

Upon answering the door at 8pm, Mr Price’s young son could be seen in the hallway watching when Campbell's companion ‘punched Mr Price’.

Mr Wilson added that the eight-year-old witnessed the attack and was ‘screaming daddy’ and ran into the living room.

Campbell followed his accomplice inside the flat and aimed the metal baseball bat at Mr Price’s head which he ‘struck a number of times’.

The court heard Ms Green entered and tried to ‘pull the men off’ but she too was ‘struck’ by the bat.

Mr Wilson said Ms Green estimated the attack to last around ten minutes before the pair ran off also causing damage to the glass panels on the door and shouting, they ‘better not call the police’.

However, the police were called, and Campbell was ‘tracked down’ and arrested but made no comment in the interview.

In a witness statement read out in the court, Mr Price said every time he hears a knock at the door, he ‘jumps up in fear’ and worries every time he goes out.

He added that it has affected his confidence, physically he was ‘very sore for a few months’ and the incident has ‘clearly affected his mental health’.

Andrew Green, defending, said the ‘greatest mitigation’ was Campbell’s young age of 21, and although there was ‘no excuse’ for his lack of engagement with probation in the beginning, a report eventually made showed ‘another side’ to Campbell.

He said he is described as a 'proactive young man’ who is the father of a young daughter.

Mr Green said Campbell was ‘under no illusions’ he faced a custodial sentence but he had his ‘best years ahead of him’.

He said: “He does present a stark contrast to many, if not most of the young people appearing in this court.”

He added that 17-months had passed since the incident and Campbell has not reoffended and he has worked which allowed him to ‘demonstrate the other side to his character’.

Judge Niclas Parry said Campbell had been ‘seeking revenge over a petty argument’ and described him as a ‘vigilante’.

He told the court Campbell had sought the help of another to ‘add fear’ and forced himself into the family home with a child present.

Judge Parry added: “You had taken a weapon with you and having forced entry you attacked the male and female in the house, causing criminal damage and injury to both victims.

“You clearly intended to cause serious harm and took a weapon for that purpose.

“This is aggravated by acting with another, it was a family home and you were clearly acting under the influence. There was a child present.

“You left it very late before admitting the offence but you did plead guilty so I give 10 per cent credit.”

The judge said the greatest mitigation was Campbell was ‘still a young man’ and reference letters showed he was ‘acting out of character’.

Campbell was given a custodial sentence for 14-months which was suspended for two-years.

He was also ordered to carry out 250-hours of unpaid work and £250 compensation to each victim as well as completing a thinking skills programme and rehabilitation requirement.