Two sadistic thugs who tortured a man, slashing his face and burning him, in a revenge attack have been jailed for life.

Gavin Trendell and Jason Grainger dished out the punishment for more than six hours to Gary Sutton after accusing him of being a grass.

The victim screamed in pain as he was cut from his ear to his mouth on both sides of his face – known as a Chelsea or Glasgow smile because of the shape. He was also burnt on his face with a hot iron.

A judge told Grainger, 36, and 41-year-old Trendell: “This offence represents a prolonged period of time during which you both used excessive violence and displayed sadistic cruelty towards your victim.

“This was torture and is rightly described as such by your victim.”

Grainger, of Chaucer Road, Gillingham, will have to serve a minimum of 10 years before the parole board will consider his release. Trendell, of Fort Pitt Street, Chatham, will serve a minimum of eight years.

They had admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and false imprisonment.

Maidstone Crown Court heard on Friday Mr Sutton was a long standing friend of Trendell’s and went to his flat in Fort Pitt Street on the evening of March 20 to return a bus pass to him.

Trendell and Grainger invited Mr Sutton to stay for a drink. After being given a can of lager he felt woozy and sleepy.

Prosecutor Craig Evans said the three chatted. Mr Sutton fell asleep. He awoke in the early hours and saw the two other men returning to the flat with a wooden pallet and a box of tools.

“This was torture and is rightly described as such by your victim...”

Trendell cut up the pallet. He and Grainger then started calling Mr Sutton a grass over a previous court matter.

Grainger told Trendell he should beat up the victim, saying: “Grasses get cut.”

Grainger fetched a knife from the kitchen. Trendell held Mr Sutton down while Grainger slowly cut him from his right ear to his mouth.

Trendell took the knife and did the same on the left side of the victim’s face. Both of them repeatedly punched him.

Mr Sutton pleaded with them but Grainger told him they had been planning the retribution for some time.

“He told Gary Sutton they were going to keep him for 10 days, and then said it had gone too far and they were going to put him in the boot of the car and take him into the woods,” said Mr Evans.

“Mr Grainger took hold of an iron in the front room and plugged it in. Once hot, Mr Trendell held Gary Sutton down on the sofa while Mr Grainger held the hot iron against Gary Sutton’s face.

“He could smell his skin burning. When Gary Sutton shouted out, both males laughed.”

They became concerned about DNA and decided to put the victim in a bath containing bleach.

Mr Sutton managed to run to the door, but found it was dead bolted and the chain was on. He was struck again and dragged into the bathroom.

He was made to take his clothes off and then put into the bath. He could feel the bleach burning into his wounds. He was held under the water “as if trying to drown him”.

Something fell into the bath and broke. Grainger grabbed it, told Mr Sutton to put his arms up and slashed at his hands with it.

He was allowed to get dressed. Trendell said he could go if he performed a sex act on Grainger. When he refused, he was held down on the sofa and Trendell put scissors to his neck.

He grabbed the victim’s toe and cut it. Grainger gave Trendell a pair of pliers. Mr Sutton’s phone was snapped in half.

Shortly after 7am, a woman arrived at the flat and Mr Sutton managed to jump out of a window and escape. He flagged down a car and was driven to a police station.

"I was convinced I was going to die...” - Gary Sutton

Mr Sutton made a victim statement in which he said he had believed he would be killed. Grainger and Trendell made vile threats to his fiancé and unborn child.

“At one stage of this ordeal I took a moment to pray and say goodbye, as I was convinced I was going to die,” he said.

He was treated for his injuries in hospital and could be left with scarring.

Mr Evans said Grainger had 13 previous convictions for 33 offences. Trendell had committed 47 previous offences.

Judge Adele Williams said of the victim: “There is no doubt he feared for his life. I have no doubt it will have profound and long-lasting effect on him and his wellbeing.”

She told Grainger: “In my judgement, you have shown no remorse or insight into your offending. You have sought to blame your victim.”

He had told a probation officer: “I don’t go attacking strangers in the street. It is just other criminals.”

Judge Williams said she had no hesitation in finding that both men posed a risk of causing further harm.

She added that it would be a matter entirely for the parole board whether they would eventually be released.