Raymond Brunt was severely beaten

Mr Brunt of St Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire, was so badly beaten after the attack in the early hours of 8 October, 2000, that surgeons had to amputate both legs.

Despite this he died nine days later at West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen.

The jury at Swansea Crown Court cleared the pair, from Wellington in Telford, of murder but found them guilty of manslaughter.

Judge Justice McKinnon said he accepted they had not intended to cause Mr Brunt's death but said they were both angry and drunk when they set out to issue the warning at his home.

Michael Hampton was upset that he was apparently making a pass at Janet Parton.

The couple were estranged at the time of the attack and, at an earlier hearing, the court heard she had formed a relationship with Mr Brunt, who proposed to her.

Mr Brunt was attacked at his home

The twins were visiting St Dogmaels and Michael Hampton admitted he had drunk nine pints.

Earlier, prosecutor Neil Bidder said Hampton was heard arguing with Mr Brunt at the village's White Hart pub during a party on the night of the incident.

He said Hampton returned to the pub later that evening and was overheard telling his brother "something has got to be sorted, something has got to be done".

Mr Brunt approached Ms Parton at the bar, angering Hampton, who later visited his home with his brother and delivered the beating.

Hampton had told the court earlier: "It was in my mind and my thought process, through drinking, had obviously been affected.

"I would say that I went up there with the intention of telling Ray to leave me and Janet alone, but I did not anticipate violence.

"I knew that an argument would occur but I did not leave the house with the intention of doing violence."