Two sadistic thugs who poured two kettles of boiling water over an elderly couple in a terrifying raid on their home have been jailed for life.

Last month, Daniel Wallace, 33, and Kacey Adams, 34, admitted aggravated burglary and causing grievous bodily harm with intent after bursting into the Halstead property, tying up and torturing their victims.

A third man, Drew Morris, 27, denied aggravated burglary and admitted the lesser charge of burglary earlier this month. The remaining charges were left on file.

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Adams and Wallace were both sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 12 and a half years.

Drew Morris was jailed for four and a half years, having not been in the house as the victims were being tortured.

The gang bound the 66-year-old businessman and his wife with cable ties before pouring water twice over her and once over him and attempting to cut one of his ears off in an attempt to extract from them the combinations of two safes.

The horrific ordeal lasted two hours and has left the 64-year-old woman with life changing injuries.

They then made off with cash, jewellery, watches, premium bonds, foreign currency, cheque cards, documentation, a CCTV system, a modem, and the contents of a drawer.

Wallace, of Barking, Essex; Adams, of Ilford, Essex; and Morris, of Rayleigh, Essex, learned their fate at Chelmsford Crown Court today.

Sentencing was moved to that court as Adams and Wallace were also jailed for conspiracy to murder involving a drive by shooting in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex.

The victim survived a blast in the face from a shotgun fired from a stolen Mercedes as he sat in his transit van at traffic lights just yards from his home.

Detective Inspector James Derham, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "Adams and Wallace smashed their way into the home of two elderly people, before subjecting them to the most horrific ordeal.

"Between them they poured two kettles of boiling water over the woman’s head and body and a further kettle over her husband.

"They have inflicted unimaginable pain and distress on two people who had worked hard throughout their lives and were looking forward to their retirement. The gratuitous, barbaric and utterly senseless actions of these two criminals have caused extensive physical and psychological scars to their victims.

"This is an extremely rare case that has shocked experienced detectives and which thankfully has now concluded with lengthy sentences. I would like to thank the victims for their courage and assistance throughout this investigation, which has helped bring these men to justice and I hope today’s sentences will help them to now rebuild their lives."