A JUDGE has slammed a pair of vile thugs who left their victim unconscious after a “persistent” and “bloody” attack in a home.

Recorder Ben Irwin sentenced Wayne Kavanagh, a 31-year-old, of West Road, Shoebury, and Thomas Sitek, a 27-year-old, of Elmsleigh Drive, Leigh to long prison terms yesterday for their involvement in the attack.

Speaking at Southend Crown Court, he said: “At 9am on January 22, police went to the home in Canewdon and in the lounge found a man unconscious, thrown on the sofa in an unnatural position.

“There were blood stains and obviously he was badly injured and was in a terrible way.

“Mr Kavanagh has bloody knuckles, this is all clear and we’ve seen it on the videos taken by the defendants and also the police body worn footage.

“The victim was airlifted to hospital in London following the attack.

“The information about what led up to the terrifying ordeal comes from few sources.

“Things rapidly got out of control and he was treated like a punch bag.

“This brutal and cruel attack went on for hours. Mr Sitek’s shoes were left bloody.

That’s an indication of the things that happened to the victim.

“It’s almost impossible to imagine what was going through his mind, being beaten and forced to stay in the room, knowing there would be further beatings.”

He told the court the men kept the woman a “prisoner in her own home”. He said there was clearly some premeditation as Kavanagh went to get the knife to continue the attack on the man.

He added: “They left him tied up for an hour, and there was so much blood the tape wouldn’t stick to his face.

“These are particularly grave and life-threatening injuries, you can see the state he was left in and it could have led to him being killed.

“He’s been left with irreversible physical and mental conditions and someone who witnesses this was left in terror.

“I regard this as an extremely serious case and there is a significant risk of harm to the public and I consider Mr Kavanagh to be a dangerous offender.”

Kavanagh appeared via video link from Peterborough Prison, dressed in a shirt and trousers. Sitek sat in the court dock in a blue jumper with a religious necklace.

The victim’s family attended the hearing, and his father wiped away tears as the details were revealed in court Recorder Irwin added: “This was a persistent attack which went on for a considerable amount of time. He could not be roused by the police officers.”

The victim’s statement was read out in the court. It said: “There’s been an emotional impact of the incident. I cannot fight the image of my father fainting when he saw me for the first time in hospital.

“The memory of how other people reacted when seeing me does not leave my mind.

“I have a complete distrust of people and will no longer go out to public events. I feel my old personality has died.

“I stay home more and only go out if it’s essential. I had issues sleeping for months and have flashbacks of them spitting on me and racially abusing me.

“I have no smell or taste – and lost one month of earnings due to time off work.

“I was feeling very tired when I went back to work following the incident.