Two men who took part in an attack involving a baseball bat and a knife have been jailed – but a third man remains at large.

Frederick Lawrence was hit over the head so hard that the baseball bat broke and was then stabbed six times in the back, puncturing a kidney.

Dale Biddle and Kevin Silva were locked up at Oxford Crown Court on Friday having earlier admitted causing actual bodily harm.

Silva, 32, was the man to swing the bat, while 23-year-old Biddle did not strike a blow but went along ‘as extra muscle’, prosecutor Tim Boswell said.

The knifeman who was part of Biddle and Silva’s group but has never been caught.

The incident took place in Rotary Way, Banbury, in April after Silva got a phone call telling him a female friend, Nicole Asiedu, was in danger and Mr Lawrence had a knife, the court heard.

Silva, of Warwick Road, Ban-bury, has 28 previous offences to his name including ABH, battery and affray.

Biddle, of Waller Drive, Banbury, has one conviction for causing grievous bodily harm in 2009 when he broke a man’s jaw in a drunken fight.

He had been given a six-month jail term, suspended for two years, which had been breached by his participation in this attack.

Graham Bennett, defending Silva, said: “There is dispute about what happened exactly.”

But he added: “There is no doubt, on information he had been given by Miss Asiedu on the telephone, his understanding was that she was being threatened and she was in some danger – and a knife had been mentioned.”

Tom Kenning, defending Biddle, said: “His involvement is limited.”

“He did not strike any blow,” he added.

Mr Kenning said Biddle runs his own jewellery and antiques business which employs his father, mother and grandfather.

Judge Patrick Eccles said: “Both of you, together with that other man, went in a group to his home.

“You, Kevin Silva, were in charge, you had armed yourself with a baseball bat and (even) if you feared that Miss Asiedu needed protection what you did was nonetheless an unlawful and unacceptable reaction.”

Silva was jailed for 15 months, Biddle for four months.