The County Court heard the victim of Arthur Patrick Rule's violent attack, which also involved his son Quenton, would have died without medical intervention.

The pair broke into their next door neighbour's home on Devenish Road at St James on July 20, 2019, following a dispute over a tree.

The victim, 64, had cut down branches which hung over her property, which caused their previously friendly relationship to sour.

The older Rule entered her home with a bat and his son held a pipe.

Quenton hit her with the pipe and the pair kicked her in the back, legs, and ankle, and Arthur kicked her 13-year-old toy poodle.

The woman was told to leave town and managed to crawl out over broken glass while struggling to breathe.

She tried to leave in her car as Arthur smashed the windscreen with a bat while his son hit the bonnet.

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The victim was taken to hospital while going in and out of consciousness and had to be flown to Melbourne while on breathing support.

Her shattered spleen was removed, eight ribs were damaged, four fingers broken, her lungs were bruised and she suffered other internal injuries.

She continues to need medical treatment.

Arthur Rule was sentenced in the County Court this week on charges including home invasion, two counts of recklessly causing serious injury and three counts of property damage.

He was jailed by Judge John Smallwood for nine years and will be able to apply for parole after six years.

His son also faced court last week and will return on Wednesday, having previously entered guilty pleas over the incident.

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