A talent show star faked a heart attack in a bid to stop a crowbar-wielding thief from breaking into his friend's pub.

Wayne O'Hare, from the duo The Singing Cabbies, was battered repeatedly with a crowbar during an attack by Scott Henderson and Kevin Jackson in Dundee.

The pair were jailed on Friday for a total of more than six years after a string of break-ins - one of which ended in the assault on Mr O'Hare.

The 51-year-old and singing partner Jimmy Smart have previously appeared on BBC's All Together Now.

Earlier this month they were booted off STV's Britain's Got Talent when Simon Cowell accused them of "singing out of tune".

In November last year, Henderson and Jackson were in the midst of a crime spree when Mr O'Hare tried to thwart their break-in at the Boar's Rock pub on Arbroath Road.

He had been staying above the pub and heard a disturbance at around 4am on November 30.

Mr O'Hare alerted the police before confronting the intruders. He threw glasses at the pair and then grabbed Henderson, to which Jackson retaliated by hitting him with a crowbar.

Fiscal depute Charmaine Gilmartin said: "The complainer pretended to have a heart attack at this time."

Mr O'Hare suffered cuts following the attack which had to be glued.

Speaking after the pair pleaded guilty, he said: "I certainly have no regrets about the action I took - if it happened again I would do exactly the same thing.

"I fought until I couldn't fight any more that night. I felt the crowbar striking me during the altercation, which went on for about four minutes.

"It was really my intention just to hold on to them until the cavalry arrived. I gave as good as I got during the incident.

"My worry is if someone else had come into that situation these guys were capable of anything because they were that desperate.

"I knew there was enough to pin the incident to these guys - there were items of clothing, DNA and CCTV of the pair fleeing the scene.

"I just wish I could have kept them there until the police arrived, but I had nothing left to give."

Henderson, 34, a prisoner at HMP Perth, and Jackson, 20, an inmate at HMP YOI Polmont, pleaded guilty to stealing 10 bottles of alcohol, till monitors, till drawers and contents, with Jackson also admitting the attack on Mr O'Hare last November.

On April 10 last year, Henderson also stole £420, a handbag, make-up and keys from Strathspey Place, which was captured on CCTV. He also raided the Barn pub on Campfield Square, stealing £1519.75, among other items.

On December 1, Henderson attempted to use pitchforks to break into premises owned by Scottish Blue on Douglas Road.

Mecca Bingo, on the same street, was also targeted on December 2, with Henderson and Jackson stealing alcohol, a charity money box and tills.

Solicitor advocate Jim Laverty, defending Henderson, said: "He accepts custody is inevitable as far as he is concerned.

"He tenders his apologies for the inconvenience and grief he has caused."

Anika Jethwa, defending Jackson, said the attack on Mr O'Hare had come through panic as the pair tried to escape the pub.

She said: "He is remorseful and he is disgusted by his behaviour."

Sheriff Alastair Brown jailed Henderson for three years and two months and sent Jackson to detention for three years.