TWO men armed with a claw hammer and spirit level launched a revenge attack on a man in a pub, a jury at Oxford Crown Court heard today.

Adam O’Connor, 29, of Banbury Road, Kidlington, denies wounding with intent, wounding, affray and possession of an offensive weapon.

Julian Pitts, 35, of no fixed abode, denies wounding with intent, wounding and possession of an offensive weapon.

Prosecutor Tetteh Turkson said O’Connor over-reacted after a drunken scuffle with Roger ‘Dicky’ Rowlands, 61, the grandfather of O’Connor’s daughter, in The Red Lion, in Kidlington, in April.

He went home and later returned to the pub with Pitts.

Mr Turkson said: “They arrived together, armed themselves and clearly intended violence from the very start.”

O’Connor attacked Mr Rowlands with the spirit level, Mr Turkson told the jury, while Pitts struck the victim on the head with a claw hammer.

Mr Rowlands fell unconscious with blood pouring from a head wound.

Pub-goers surrounded the pair with bar stools to stop them inflicting further violence or escaping, although Pitts managed to get away but was arrested the same evening, the court heard.

The trial continues.