TWO anguished grandparents "saw red" and "exploded" in sheer frustration after years of being stopped from seeing their grandchildren.
The couple, who had fought a five-year legal battle to try to gain access to the children, which they were forced to abandon when they ran out of money, said they had "snapped".
Dennis Bloomfield, 53, of Newhaven Terrace, Grimsby, admitted assaulting Graham Blakey, damaging a car belonging to his stepdaughter Shirlianne Kershaw, and having a lump hammer as an offensive weapon on March 26.
His wife, Wendy Bloomfield, 52, admitted assaulting her daughter, Miss Kershaw, and having a pickaxe handle as an offensive weapon.
They told Grimsby Crown Court their pain "boiled over" after they were taunted in an "unkind and unfeeling" way – and their "noses were rubbed in it" – about not being able to see the two young girls, a court heard.
Mark Kendall, prosecuting, said there had been a long-running family dispute between the Bloomfields and Miss Kershaw over seeing their two granddaughters, aged six and three.
And, when the Bloomfields came across Miss Kershaw and her boyfriend, Graham Blakey, by chance at Humberston Fitties, there was a confrontation.
Dennis Bloomfield "armed himself" with a hammer from the car and Wendy Bloomfield had a pickaxe handle.
He hit Mr Blakey on the forehead and arm with the hammer, causing a cut, and smashed all the windows of Mr Blakey's car.
Wendy Bloomfield hit her daughter with the pickaxe handle – not realising that Miss Kershaw was pregnant at the time.
Ernie Lidster, mitigating, said the confrontation "all exploded" because of "gestures and remarks" allegedly made by Mr Blakey.
The couple believed Mr Blakey was "rubbing their noses in it" and claimed he was making comments to the effect of "we are taking your grandchildren for a walk but you can't," said Mr Lidster.
Dennis Bloomfield admitted waving the hammer about and recklessly hitting Mr Blakey's forehead.
"The lives of these defendants have been blighted as a result of the fact that they haven't been able to see their grandchildren," said Mr Lidster. "They would very much like to have access to them and to have had a relationship with the whole family.
"They realise a lot of bridges would have to be built before any reconciliation.
"What made him snap, he doesn't know. It was a controlled snap. He is horrified and devastated at the result of his actions, from the effect it has had on everyone, particularly the children.
"He bitterly regrets his actions. His remorse is genuine."
Steven Freestone, representing Wendy Bloomfield, said the couple had been trying to gain access to their grandchildren through the courts, for about five years in the case of the elder girl, but ran out of money and could no longer pursue it.
Wendy Bloomfield claimed she thought her daughter was going to get involved in violence between the two men and that Miss Kershaw was going to attack Dennis Bloomfield.
"She has acted very emotionally," said Mr Freestone. "It's unfortunate that, on this occasion, it has all boiled over. She is devastated that the relationship is beyond repair."
Dennis Bloomfield, who has a pension but helps his wife with her cleaning jobs, was given 200 hours' unpaid work and Wendy Bloomfield, who works 58 hours a week on three cleaning jobs, was given a one-year supervision order.
They were told to pay £220 compensation for the damage, £100 each in other compensation and £200 each in costs.
