A MAN who smashed his way into a Hampshire flat armed with an imitation gun to beat those he believed were dealing drugs to his sister is behind bars.

Prolific offender Perry Osbourne is today starting a six-and-a-half-years jail sentence after flying into a rage and pistol whipping one of the men he believed was supplying his sibling with drugs.

The two men inside the Southampton flat were left fearing for their lives believing that Osbourne was threatening them with a real gun.

Neighbours were left so terrified by the loud bangs coming from the struggles inside the Fritham Road flat that they called the police.

Southampton Crown Court was told how Osbourne and his accomplice Christopher Bullen broke in on the morning of June 8 this year.

Once inside the pair began shouting at the two men as Osbourne pointed his metal BB gun at them.

Prosecutor Tammy Mears said: “Both gentlemen were in fear of their lives and believed it was a genuine gun.”

As the drama unfolded, Osbourne pistol whipped one of the men, leaving him with a wound which later required gluing in hospital.

Pointing the gun, 24-year-old Osbourne, of Osborne Road, Southampton, then demanded the code for a safe.

Nothing was taken from it but together with Bullen, they helped themselves to cash and items from the house, including a wide screen TV before fleeing the scene.

But thanks to the calls from worried neighbours, police were quickly at the scene and were able to track down the two attackers at their homes.

The court heard how Osbourne, who admitted aggravated burglary, had racked up more than 20 previous convictions, including three for burglary - one of which he had been on licence when he broke into the flat.

Jailing him for six and a half years, judge Gary Burrell told Osbourne, that he had “taken the law into his own hands” and it was “a shame” he had not reconsidered confronting the man on the 20 minute walk from his home to the scene of the crime.

He added: “It seems to me that you lack maturity and insight. He never did anything to provoke it and suddenly he is on the ground being beaten by a hard object.”

In mitigation, the court heard how Osbourne had believed his victim had been drug dealing to his younger sister and that the situation developed once he was inside the flat.

Bullen, also 24, pleaded guilty and was jailed for five and a half years.

His barrister, Sarah Jones, said he was “genuinely remorseful” and that he would now be losing a factory job where he hoped to be promoted.