A TAUNTON man who was jailed earlier this year after hospitalising a homeless man for 14 days following a vicious three-hour assault has been handed a longer prison sentence.

Shane Lock, 30, was jailed in April for five years for the assault, along with Gary Timewell, 24, who was given six months and Damien Timewell, 28, who was handed a six month suspended sentence for his part in the attack.

But now, the Court of Appeal has handed Shane Lock a longer prison term following an intervention by Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP.

After a referral by the Solicitor General, the Court increased Lock’s sentence to nine and a half years.

During the original sentencing at Taunton Crown Court, the court heard that the victim, Simon Dabrowa, who was a homeless alcoholic, had been temporarily staying at Damien Timewell's flat.

On October 14, 2015, Mr Dabrowa, the Timewell brothers and Lock were drinking cider in the flat when a row between Lock and Mr Dabrowa escalated quickly to violence.

The court heard Lock repeatedly punched Mr Dabrowa in the face, kneed him in the groin and then kicked him in the head while he was on the floor, causing him lose consciousness.

He begged them to stop and at one point tried to leave the flat but was dragged back in.

The victim tried to barricade himself in the toilet and his blood was all over the bathroom, the court heard.

Lock broke through the door and said 'I am going to prison anyway, I might as well kill you.'

The attack continued and Mr Dabrowa ended up in a utility closet where Lock urinated on him and threatened to pour lighter fluid on him and set him on fire.

Mr Dabrowa remained in hospital for 14 days having suffered multiple broken ribs, a spinal fracture, broken thyroid and eye socket fracture as well as severe bruising and swelling on his face.

Speaking after the hearing, Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP, said: “Lock attacked his victim over several hours.

"He repeatedly punched, kicked and choked him, and at one stage covered him in lighter fluid and threatened to set him on fire.

“The original sentence failed to take proper account of the nature of the offence and the aggravating features of case, so I am pleased the Court has seen fit to impose a longer prison term.”