TWO cousins have gone on trial accused of a violent robbery, where the victim had his head split open by masked assailants who broke into his home.

Cousins Glyn Haysham, 49, and Michael Haysham, 44, have denied the charges, claiming they had no part in the robbery of a flat in Williams Crescent, Barry.

During the opening of the prosecution's case at Cardiff Crown Court, the jury heard how victim John Sullivan, 60, feared for his life when two masked men kicked in his door at around 9.30pm on November 28 last year.

Prosecutor Jeffrey Jones told the court that Sullivan - who knows the cousins through supplying them with illegal drugs, a crime he was convicted of in 2012 - was relaxing at home watching television when he heard someone kicking his front door.

As he ventured to find out what the disturbance was, two men wearing hoods and scarves burst through the door and one of them - allegedly Glyn - hit him on the head with a wooden pole.

Giving evidence Mr Sullivan told the court: "There was a thud on my head and I fell against the wall.

"I knew I couldn't go to the floor because I was afraid they would kick me. I was afraid for my life."

At first demanding drugs, the pair then began to ask for money when Mr Sullivan said he no longer supplied illegal drugs.

Mr Sullivan said that he recognised Michael Haysham's voice and noted that the pair were referring to each other as "cuz", short for "cousin", during the raid.

They left the property with cash, a laptop, a Playstation 3, Sony television, a mobile phone and jewellery.

Before they left they threatened Mr Sullivan that if he told anyone who had done this they would come back to "bury him in the ground".

Mr Sullivan would later need 12 stitches to the head wound suffered in the attack.

When Michael, of Irvine Close, and Glyn, of Chesterfield Street, were arrested they denied any involvement with Glyn saying that "it was probably Michael, because he had come around looking worried and upset". Michael claimed this hadn't taken place.

During the subsequent investigation, forensic evidence showed that Mr Sullivan's blood was present on Glyn's jeans and on Michael's trainers.

There was also a footprint matching Michael Haysham's trainers left on papers on Mr Sullivan's floor.

They both deny a charge of robbery. The trial continues.

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