TWO Hampshire men who viciously tortured a victim have had their sentences doubled to 10 years.

James Champion and Dane Perkins were originally sentenced to five years at Winchester Crown Court for subjecting their victim to a terrifying and agonizing ordeal lasting more than an hour after a row.

But following a bid by solicitor general Robert Buckland QC MP to the Court of Appeal, it was ruled that the sentence was too soft and should be increased to reflect their crimes.

The men will also be on licence for three years when they are released.

Daily Echo:

When the incident happened, Champion had been out of prison for just two weeks and Perkins was on weekend leave while serving an indefinite sentence.

In August last year, the brother of Perkins phoned him claiming he was at home with a friend and that they had bought and taken some drugs together

But Perkins suddenly could not find his wallet.

His friend strongly denied taking it, but when Champion and Perkins arrived it was “game over”, said the victim.

They had used the wallet as a pretext for violence.

A fight ensued, and the victim was punched, kicked in the head and stamped on despite his insistence he did not have the wallet and even stripping to show it wasn’t on him.

He was then told the two men were going to “take it to the next level”.

Champion and Perkins tied him with electric cable, his hands and feet bound behind him and a plastic bag placed over his head.

A cold bath was run and he was repeatedly plunged under the water by his attackers who told him he would be drowned.

The victim could barely breathe under water and choked through the plastic bag.

Next a steam iron was used to burn his arm.

Champion and Perkins then dragged him to the balcony of the second floor flat and dangled him head first over the edge laughingly telling him they would “chuck him over”.

Finally they took him inside and dumped him on the bathroom floor.

They told him if he told anyone what had happened, they would kill his family.

On October 3 the pair were convicted for false imprisonment, threats to kill and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Champion, from Portsmouth had 18 previous convictions for a total of 40 offences many for burglary and dishonesty and other convictions for assault.

Perkins, from Gosport had 12 previous convictions for 26 offences many for dishonesty and another for robbery.

Speaking after today’s court hearing, solicitor general Robert Buckland QC MP said: “I referred this case to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient as this incident was prolonged and sustained involving repeated and terrifying assaults.

“The victim believed he was going to die. Submerging his head in water and hanging him over the edge of the balcony amounted to a barbaric level of torture.

“This violence seemed to have been perpetrated for the offenders’ entertainment. Both Champion and Perkins have previous convictions for serious violence and this was re-offending soon after they were out of prison.

“I am pleased their sentences have been increased to 10 years which clearly demonstrates committing serious violence will be met with a long prison sentence.”