Two "violent and dangerous" criminals who bound and robbed a man during a dispute over drugs have been sentenced to almost eight years in prison, a court heard.

The victim was wrapped in duct tape, gagged, threatened with a knife and punched repeatedly in the head during the horrific attack.

Sanchez Banton and Anton Asutaitis, from London, carried out the assault in Maidstone while trying to recover some heroin.

On Wednesday, April 15, 2015, they asked the victim to help retrieve the drug from a man they believed he knew.

He decided not to help, but visited an address in Bull Lane, Eccles, as he was concerned for the welfare of the man's partner.

When he got there, he found Asutaitis, Banton and a third unidentified man inside, and was forced into a Ford Focus.

Child locks were activated on the doors to prevent his escape, and the vehicle travelled to the Blue Bell Hill area before turning onto a road toward Burham, where Asutaitis slammed on the brakes.

The victim was then attacked by Banton and another man while Asutaitis demanded the return of his heroin.

He was threatened with a knife, before duct tape was wrapped around his arms and mouth.

The victim's cash and mobile phone were then stolen and he was dropped off in the Eccles area, where he raised the alarm.

Police were able to recover the vehicle used during the attack, and matched Banton's DNA to the front passenger seat.

Officers also found fibres in the car containing the victim's blood.

Further DNA was recovered which placed both Asutaitis and Banton at the scene of the property in Eccles and the pair were later arrested.

Appearing before Maidstone Crown Court, Asutaitis, 24, and of Pimlico Road, Belgravia, London and Banton, 25, of Whitehorse Road, Croydon pleaded guilty to offences of inflicting grievous bodily harm and robbery.

Asutaitis was sentenced to four years and six months in prison and Banton was sentenced to three years.

Detective Constable Tony Hatcher said: "Anton Asutaitis and Sanchez Banton are both violent and dangerous criminals.

"As well as the serious injuries they inflicted upon their victim they also subjected him to a prolonged period of what can only be described as sustained psychological abuse.

"There is no doubt the mental scars will stay with him for a very long time, but I hope he will at least take some reassurance that these two men are now serving significant prison sentences."