Two brothers who threatened a couple with violence moments before the husband died of a heart attack have been jailed.

Dean and Wayne Stephens screamed and swore at Roy and Bridget Pedley, who were out for a Sunday afternoon walk with their son's boxer dog.

The victims were followed home to Fosse Road North, Leicester, amid threats to throw them off a bridge and turn their dogs on to them.

Mr Pedley, a 62-year-old granddad, then suffered a fatal heart attack while on the phone to the police, on April 3.

His distraught wife, Bridget (61), desperately tried to resuscitate him.

The tragedy was the end of a terrifying campaign of harassment by Dean Stephens, which had been going on since a fight between their respective dogs 10 months earlier.

Dean Stephens (42) was jailed for 27 months yesterday at Leicester Crown Court after admitting putting the Pedleys in fear of violence, during at least four incidents between June 2010 and last April.

His brother, Wayne, (41) admitted threatening behaviour on the day of Mr Pedley's death.

He was jailed for four months, but released having served the time on remand.

The defendants, both of Tudor Road, Leicester, have a history of violent offending and threatening behaviour.

Mrs Pedley's sister, Evelyn, who is married to Robert Pedley – one of Roy's brothers – said after the case: "Dean and Wayne Stephens are scum. They're a brainless waste of society. It was cowardly to pick on an elderly couple."

Catarina Sjolin, prosecuting, said 10 months earlier the Pedleys were walking their son Carl's boxer dog, Max, on a lead when it was involved in a fight with two Staffordshire bull terriers, which were with Dean Stephens.

Mr Pedley cut his finger trying to separate them.

Dean Stephens became angry because his dog had been bitten, and said it was not the last they would hear about it.

The court heard that in the following two months there were confrontations and violent threats made.

Mr Pedley reported it to the police, who advised he let them know if there was further trouble.

Matters quietened down until the couple saw Dean Stephens in their local park, known as The Rally, on April 3.

Stephens shouted aggressively, swearing, hurling insults and calling them "geriatrics."

Following them home, he summoned his brother, Wayne, who joined in the abuse right up to their gate.

Ms Sjolin said: "What happened next is very sad.

"Mr Pedley had a heart attack while on the phone to the police. He died.

"He was suffering from severe heart disease. He could have suffered a heart attack on any day and it wasn't the stress of this incident which lead to the heart attack."

Sentencing, Recorder Keith Raynor said: "Dean Stephens, your behaviour was entirely reprehensible.

"You treated these two older people with a deliberate lack of respect. You acted as a bully and getting some sort of pleasure in getting one over Mr and Mrs Pedley.

"You didn't use actual violence. It was a course of conduct, not a solitary incident.

"By April 3, they were terrified. Your previous convictions indicate you have no respect for older people or people in positions of authority, including the police."

Simon Clarke, mitigating for Dean Stephens, said: "There are two sides to every story, but it would demonstrate a lack of grace to put it forward. Nothing can bring back Mr Pedley."

Christopher Kessling, for Wayne Stephens, said: "His involvement was limited in the scheme of things."