A thug who viciously beat up a woman after breaking into her home on Mother’s Day has been locked up indefinitely under a sentence for public protection.

Robert Brazil, of no fixed address, will serve a minimum of five-and-a-half years in prison before the parole board considers whether it is safe to order his release.

His brother, father-of-11 Edmund Brazil, of Cockering Road, Canterbury, was jailed for seven years for his part in the attack that fractured Helen Allen’s eye socket and cheekbone.

Robert Brazil was also sentenced for conning an elderly woman out of cash.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that on January 21 Robert Brazil went to the Canterbury home of frail Evelyn Clarke and knocked on her door.

He told the 86-year-old pensioner he was there to do her a favour.

He said birds were getting into her roof space and he would fix it for her for £50, but give her a £5 discount.

When she offered to give him a cheque, the amount increased to £150. She gave it to him and he left and cashed the cheque at a bank.

The court heard Miss Allen and her partner Peter Howell had been out on March 2 for a meal with their three children.

They returned home to Frittenden Close, Ashford, and Mr Howell went to a travellers’ site at Chilmington to pay his respects to a woman who had died.

Danny Robinson, prosecuting, said Miss Allen was later at home watching television when, wearing balaclavas and carrying screwdrivers, the brothers forced their way in.

She was grabbed around neck and a screwdriver was held to her throat. She was threatened she would be stabbed if she did not hand over money.

Miss Allen bravely told them to “get out”. Edmund Brazil, 29, went upstairs to where the children were asleep, while Robert Brazil, 27, held Miss Allen.

“She acted courageously,” said the prosecutor. “She managed to break free and tried to go upstairs. She pleaded with the men to leave her kids alone.

“For her troubles, she was punched very hard in the face.”

Edmund Brazil went into the main bedroom and took a small free-standing safe. As he ran past Miss Allen, she pushed him and he fell down the stairs.

Robert Brazil, whose hood had ridden up, then gave Miss Allen a vicious beating, repeatedly punching and kicking her.

Robert Brazil denied aggravated burglary but was convicted. Edmund Brazil admitted the charge.

They both denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent but were convicted.

Robert Brazil also admitted fraud.

Catherine Donnelly, for Robert Brazil, said a significant event in his life was the death of his father, who committed suicide by throwing himself off a motorway bridge.

“It has had quite an impact on him,” she said. “He has been unable to attend the funeral. The offences are borne from drug addiction.”

Paul Andrews, for Edmund Brazil, said he had shown remorse and written a letter of apology to Miss Allen. It was a burglary that went horrifically wrong, he said.