A man was struck "full force" in the face with a camping stove after two thugs entered a caravan while he and a mate were sleeping, a court heard.

As well as being hit with the stove, Liam Colsell felt blow after blow as Warren Evans and Jason Farmer alternately attacked him.

The victim escaped without any broken bones but needed hospital treatment for wounds to his face and head.

Evans and Farmer, both 26, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Evans, of Mote Road, Maidstone, was jailed for five years and seven months and Farmer, of the town's James Whatman Way, for four years and nine months.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Mr Colsell was "caravan sitting" in Albion Place and went back there with a friend on April 26.

They went to sleep but in the early hours of the next day he suddenly felt blows to his head and face. He tried to defend himself but was kicked in the head.

Prosecutor Martin Yale said one of the attackers said: “You think you’re bad.”

Both Mr Colsell and his friend were attacked with Evans and Farmer swapping over.

Mr Colsell asked why they were doing it, but the response was to continue with the assault.

“One picked up a camping stove and hit him full force in the face,” said Mr Yale.

“He tried to protect himself by turning his head away, but that just meant he received blows to a different part of his head.

“He was hit two or three times with the stove. The gas canister was removed from the stove and that too was used to assault them.”

One of the attackers said they should take the stove with them as it was evidence.

Bleeding heavily, Mr Colsell and his friend went to the High Street where they saw Evans and Farmer again.

Mr Colsell was taken to hospital where his wounds were glued and he was given a CT scan.

Mr Yale said father-of-three Evans had 26 previous convictions for 53 offences. Farmer had 24 previous convictions for 45 offences.

Evans wrote to the court apologising and vowing to turn his life around “after this terrible crime”.

Passing sentence, Judge Charles Macdonald QC said: “You were in drink and for no reason, or having taken up the cudgels for someone else slighted, you went to the caravan, forced your way in and attacked the victim with numerous blows to the head.

“One of you picked up a camping stove and struck his head, assisted by the other.

"He was subjected to a two on one attack in his temporary home.”