TWO thugs who viciously threatened and kidnapped a debt collector have each been jailed for 10 years.

Simon Friday, 31, and Dion Hemsworth, 35, subjected Brian Beasley to a terrifying ordeal after forcing their way into his home in Deal in January.

Both men, together with a third accomplice who has never been caught, wore either balaclavas or ski masks. The gang was also armed with a stun gun and axe.

Mr Beasley, who was a branch manager for lending firm Morses Club, had his hands and legs tied up and his mouth gagged with Sellotape before being bundled into the back of his own car and a pillow case pulled over his head.

He was then forced to reveal the PIN to his company credit card before being dumped in a Reculver car park.

Jailing Friday and Hemsworth at Maidstone Crown Court, Judge Jeremy Carey said it was " a truly dreadful crime" and one which the public expected to be met with a substantial period of imprisonment.

He praised Mr Beasley for his bravery and said he would be recommending him to the High Sheriff of Kent for a commendation.

"It was a truly terrifying experience for him and the kind of experience all householders going about their own business dread, stressed the judge.

"It is plainly apparent the long term psychological effects are considerable and will stay with him for many years...Mr Beasley had no idea when it would end or whether it would result in serious injury or death."

Hemsworth, of Ingram Road, Gillingham, and Friday, of Saxton Street, Gillingham, admitted aggravated burglary and kidnap. They were each sentenced to 10 years concurrent on each offence.

Friday also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm before the expiration of a prison sentence and was sentenced to a further three years concurrent.

Both men will serve half their 10 year sentences, less 210 days spent on remand by Hemsworth and 238 days by Friday.

Judge Carey said an indeterminate sentence for public protection was not necessary but only credited them with one-fifth off what would have been their original sentence had it not been for their "belated" guilty pleas. The usual credit for guilty pleas is one-third.

The court heard both men had been customers of Morses Club in the past, and Hemsworth's girlfriend, Wendy Phillips, was herself working for the firm at the time collecting repayments.

Judge Carey said this element of inside information was an aggravating factor of the case, together with the premeditation, the degree of violence and a group attack on a defenceless victim.

Miss Phillips, of Walsingham Close, Gillingham, was herself originally charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by allegedly providing Hemsworth with an alibi.

However, the court was told no further evidence was offered against her after she accepted a caution.