A MAN has been sentenced to life in prison after chopping off the thumbs of an acquaintance over a drugs debt.

Stephen Bryant attacked his 36-year-old victim after he was seen being dragged from his home in Earl Street, St Leonards.

Just 45 minutes later, the victim managed to struggle to some remote cottages between Robertsbridge and Salehurst, about 12 miles away, with blood pouring from his hands. Both his thumbs had been severed almost entirely from his hands and emergency services were called on May 29 last year.

Although the victim initially refused to tell police many details, he said he had been held down and attacked with an axe. He suffered deep cuts to each hand, severed arteries and tendons and crushed bones.

CCTV traced a BMW owned by Bryant, a local gym owner and Detectives arrested him in June last year.

The victim was not supportive of the police investigation and detectives turned to phone technology to help with the case. Detective Constable Nick O'Shaughnessy used phone messages between Bryant and his associates to prove his intentions to harm the victim.

In a text message on May 24, days before the attack, Bryant texted saying, "Found him boys and all in 'hand' LOL," making clear his plan for the victim.

Bryant, 39, of The Mount, St Leonards, was charged in March this year with kidnap and GBH with intent, to which he pleaded not guilty. He stood trial at Hove Crown Court between September 13 and 20 and was found of guilty of both offences.

Today, sentencing him to life imprisonment for the assault, with a minimum term of ten years, Judge Anthony Niblett said: "The brutality of these offences was exceptional. It was a brutal and sadistic attack on a vulnerable man. It was premeditated, carefully planned and well executed."

Judge Niblett added that he considered Bryant to be unpredictable and potentially highly dangerous. He also imposed a ten-year sentence for the kidnap offence.

He went on to congratulate investigating officer, Detective Constable Nick O'Shaughnessy, awarding him a Judge's Commendation for a painstaking investigation, noting that the officer had faced personal danger and shown great courage in bringing the offender to justice.

DC O'Shaughnessy said the incident was in connection with a drugs debt.

He said: "The victim's injuries to his hands were horrendous and he has undergone a large amount of surgery. However, he will never have the same movement in his hands again and the injuries have been life-changing."