TWO men beat up a friend for half an hour before tying him to a chair, slashing him, stabbing him twice, cutting his ear, threatening to kill him and shaving his head, a court heard.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Peter Elvin, 21, and David Stobbart, 22, both of Stanley, so traumatised their victim that he has moved from his home and can not make new friends.

Elvin, of Pelaw Avenue, Shield Row, and Stobbart, of Heatherway, both pleaded guilty and were both jailed for four years. The court heard there was no reason for the attack.

Christopher Williamson, prosecuting, said that Elvin and Stobbart had befriended victim Paul Clement, 26, not long before the day of the attack. On the day all three had been drinking at Mr Clement's former home at Ernest Terrace, Shield Row, Stanley, and later had been smoking cannabis.

Mr Williamson said: "All were somewhat inebriated when Mr Stobbart suddenly began attacking the victim, pounding him in the face for about 30 minutes.

"Eventually Mr Elvin, who had a knife said 'shall I do him in?' and stabbed him in the left arm. The victim was slashed around the face and he was stabbed to the arm and leg.

"Mr Stobbart then began slashing him with a pen knife. Mr Clement was then taken upstairs and he was tied up to a chair with Sellotape by his hands and feet. Later they shaved his head and one of his eyebrows."

The court heard Mr Clement was taken to hospital but his physical injuries were not severe. The police questioned him but it took Mr Clement some time before he could be persuaded to name the two culprits.

Brian Marks, defending Stobbart, said his client had sustained a head injury in a car accident as a six-year-old that had caused damage and affected his behaviour.

He and Tom Moran, defending Elvin, both said the pair should receive credit for pleading guilty even though there was a good chance Mr Clement would be too scared to attend court.

Summing up on Friday, Judge Lancaster said the reports indicated Stobbart had cut Mr Clement's ear and both had inflicted humiliation on their victim. He said: "This was a sustained, nasty, vindictive, unprovoked attack."

The pair had been charged with wounding and false imprisonment and also robbery for taking clothing, cash and a mobile phone from Mr Clement.