The incident, which occurred on Hylton Road in Sunderland in August 2018, left the victim hospitalised with multiple injuries

Two thugs who stabbed a man while repeatedly beating him with a dog chain have been jailed for a total of 26 years.

Mark Roberts, 32, and Kyle Dixon, 24, left their victim hospitalised as a result of the brutal assault on Hylton Road, Sunderland, in August last year.

The pair denied charges of wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon.

But they were both found guilty of all charges by a jury following a five-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court in February.

Yesterday (Thursday), the pair were back in court for sentencing. A judge jailed Roberts for 14 years while Dixon was handed a 12-year jail-term.

Detective Sergeant David Reeves, of Northumbria Police, said: “This was a cowardly assault which caused distress to both the victim and the community as a whole.

“Armed with weapons caused to inflict maximum damage, Roberts and Dixon set upon their victim and left him with serious injuries that could so easily have proven fatal. This type of behaviour is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

“They then had the audacity to claim the victim had erroneously identified them as the perpetrators. They showed no remorse following the attack and did not cooperate with police throughout the investigation.

“There can be little doubt that Sunderland is a safer place with these two men off the streets, and we will continue to look to target violent offenders and bring them to justice."

The court heard how the victim was set upon by the pair in the early hours of August 25 last year.

Roberts stabbed the defendant multiple times while Dixon attacked him with a dog chain in the ruthless attack.

The victim required emergency surgery at hospital after sustaining multiple stab wounds to his back, chest, armpit and head.

An investigation was launched by police, who later arrested Dixon and Roberts after they were picked out by the victim in a photographic identity parade.

The attackers denied all charges claiming there had been a case of “mistaken identity”.

In a statement which was read out in court, the victim said: “I thought I was going to die that night.

“I have struggled to eat, work and get back into exercise. I feel like my life has been taken away as I cannot get back to how I was.”

Dixon, of Warwick Street, Sunderland, denied wounding with intent and having an offensive weapon, namely a metal dog chain.

Roberts, of Guildford Street, Sunderland, denied wounding with intent and having an offensive weapon, namely a knife.

However, both were convicted of all charges by a jury and have now been jailed.