A father and son were sentenced after they dragged a man out of a betting shop and beat him up.

Aaron Gaskin, 22, and Curtis Gaskin, 56, of Links Way, Croxley Green, were given a 16 month jail sentence suspended for two years at St Albans crown court on Wednesday, November 15.

Aaron was also ordered to carry out 120 hours' unpaid work, attend 15 days of a rehabilitation requirement and pay the victim £1,000 compensation over the next 12 months.

The pair were recorded on CCTV pulling the man across the floor of Ansell's in Whippendell Road, Watford, where he was then kicked and punched by the Gaskins and another unidentified man outside.

The victim was treated for a gash to his elbow, a cut lip and the loss of a tooth. Three other teeth had to be extracted and surgical implants put in place.

Judge Graham Arran said: "This was a sustained assault on the victim by three people. They sought him and dragged him out."

He told them it was their family circumstances that save them from going straight to prison. He warned them: "Don't come back to court. You will only have yourselves to blame if you come back and go to prison."

The father and son appeared earlier pleaded guilty to causing the man actual bodily harm on June 4 last year.

Prosecutor Sarah Porter said Aaron Gaskin had gone into the bookmaker's to confront the victim about his son's behaviour towards his younger sister.

They both worked at Morrison's supermarket and she had complained that she had been bullied.

He refused to leave the bookmaker's and, shortly afterwards, he was struck from behind and forced outside, where the assault took place.

The police were called and both men were arrested. Curtis Gaskin told officers there had been a problem with his daughter at work.

Aaron Gaskin had previous offences for battery, assaulting a Constable and robbery. The last was five years ago.

Curtis Gaskin had offences committed between 1977 and 1994.

Defending Curtis Gaskin, Nicholas Whitehorn said his most recent caution was 13 years ago. He said that there was a "perceived provocation" and that he was trying to protect his family.

He said: "His daughter was being bullied at the supermarket. He accepts there is no excuse for what he did. He was at pains to express one has to be culpable for his actions. He feels genuinely remorseful. "

He said Curtis Gaskin acted as his wife's carer.

Kerry Currie for Aaron Gaskin, said he has now settled down with a partner and their child. She said he was an apprentice painter and decorator.

She said he had acted out of "misplaced loyalty" to his younger sister.