A Wirral drug dealer who orchestrated a horrific retribution attack which left another man covered in bleach, battered and scarred was jailed for five years today, Friday.

The victim was being paid £150 a week to mind cocaine and cannabis for Joshua Thomas but his flat was burgled and the drugs stolen.

"You decided to teach him a lesson for having lost the drugs and this case is about retribution," Judge Mark Brown told 21-year-old Thomas.

After making threats to Daniel Lock he turned up at his home in Grange Road West, Birkenhead at night with two other unknown men, one wearing a crash helmet and the other a balaclava.

Mr Lock was in bed when they arrived on April 24 this year and while his arms were held he was hit repeatedly with a baseball bat. The man in the crash helmet hit him several times with it across his body and legs.

"While that was going on you were very animated and clearly in charge of events," said Judge Brown.

"You picked up a large screwdriver and struck Mr Lock to the head several times. The man in the balaclava had a knife and put it to Mr Lock's face saying he would like to take his eye out.

"He was forced to write on the bedroom wall 'I should not have taken the weed' and you then wrote, 'I rob weed'. Having done that bleach was poured over Mr Lock and his flat was trashed," said the judge.

"His couch and clothes were cut up and threats were made to burn down his mother's address. His bank card was stolen and he was forced to give you his pin  number. The bank card was used four times and £90 withdrawn from his account.

"You were obviously sending out a message both to Mr Lock and everybody else that you might be involved with that you ' don't mess with me or there will be serious reprisals."

Liverpool Crown Court heard that his physical injuries included double vision, wounds to his head and face, bruising to his back and a swollen hand and wrist.

In a personal statement Mr Lock said that he has been left so frightened he has had to move out of the area and is "constantly looking over my shoulder".

He still has scars to his face and head. "Every time I look at myself I have a constant reminder," he said.

He added that he feels unable to contact friends for fear of it leading to him being tracked down. Mr Lock said he was glad Thomas was in custody but added, "I don't think this will be the end of the matter."

21-year-old Thomas, formerly of Rydal Close, Little Neston, South Cheshire, pleaded guilty to burglary and assault causing actual bodily harm.

John Potter, defending, said that Thomas, now of Grazing Drive, Irlam, Manchester, has previous drugs convictions but nothing similar to this incident.

"He accepts his part in the assault. There was a dispute but the complainant should not have been treated in that way. He accepts he went too far in this dispute.

"He had known him for a number of years and he is remorseful for what happened."

Thomas claimed that the other two men were to blame for the majority of the violence, added Mr Potter.

Sentencing Thomas to five years in jail, Judge Mark Brown said: "There must be a substantial custodial sentence to make clear this sort of conduct cannot be tolerated."