A homophobic thug who tried to kill his teenage flatmate in a hammer attack has been told he will serve at least two thirds of his sentence by the Court of Appeal.

The court told Joseph Williams he will not be eligible for release until he has served at least two thirds of his 14-year sentence.

The revised sentence also means he will be supervised by the probation service for a further five years after the sentence has lapsed.

Williams left the weapon embedded in the skull of Connor Huntley, who was 18 at the time of the attack in May, as he slept at a two-bedroom flat in Margate’s Athelstan Road.

Openly gay Mr Huntley, who often wore women’s clothes and makeup, was lucky to survive and required an operation to remove the hammer, bone fragments and a blood clot.

“I felt that the original 14-year sentence was unduly lenient as it did not reflect the aggravating factors in this case, that the offence was motivated by hostility towards the victim’s sexual orientation and that he was particularly vulnerable at the time because he was asleep" - Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP

He now suffers from epilepsy and can no longer live independently.

Williams, who had made “disparaging comments about gay people” in the past, claimed he was suffering from mental illness at the time of the attack.

He was convicted of attempted murder by a unanimous jury at the Old Bailey and began his sentence at a mental hospital.

Speaking after today’s hearing, Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP said: “I am pleased with the Court of Appeal’s decision to increase the sentence handed to Joseph Williams. His victim suffered horrific life-changing injuries in a vicious hammer attack.

“I felt that the original 14-year sentence was unduly lenient as it did not reflect the aggravating factors in this case, that the offence was motivated by hostility towards the victim’s sexual orientation and that he was particularly vulnerable at the time because he was asleep and I hope the increased sentence of 19 years sends out a clear message that attacks motivated by homophobia will be dealt with by long prison sentences.”

During the trial in September the court heard how Mr Huntley now suffers from regular nightmares.

Prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC said: “The right side of his body had been affected and his movement had been affected.

“He suffers from epilepsy and has described symptoms of depression. The nightmares he described occur about three times a week and he went on to described the effects on his life.”

Mr Huntley, who formerly lived in Dover and was a student at Archers Court School, said in his victim impact statement: “I can’t drink because I’ve got epilepsy, I can’t go clubbing in case I have a fit because of the lighting system.

"I can’t spent the night at my friend’s house, I can’t go out on my own. I can’t withdraw money from my bank account because someone has got my bank card.”

The judge added: “It is clear he will never be able to live independently. I’ve seen photographs of him post recovery where a large section of his head is still missing as a result of the decompression of the brain.”

Police arrived to find Mr Huntley lying on an air bed with the hammer embedded in his skull. He had suffered a depressed skull fracture and traumatic brain injury. An expert concluded that at least two blows must have been inflicted with severe force.

Williams, of Athelstan Road, Cliftonville, Margate, had denied attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The increased sentence comes as new figures released by Kent Police show the number of homophobic hates crimes recorded has increased.

Officers investigated 40 violent crimes motivated by a person's sexual orientation between January and October, up from the 32 offences recorded in 2013 and 34 in 2012.

The Attorney General's Office initially released information stating Williams's sentence had been increased.