THREE men have received prison sentences following a vicious three-hour assault in Taunton which hospitalised a homeless man for 14 days.

The main perpetrator, 30-year-old Shane Lock, was jailed for five years for assault while Gary Timewell, 24, was jailed for six months and his brother Damien Timewell, 28, was given a six months suspended sentence for their parts in the attack.

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

Prosecuting, Nikki Coombes said that on the morning of October 14 last year, 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.

"Upon regaining consciousness the victim pleaded with the two brothers to get Lock to stop but they did nothing," Mrs Coombes said.

"The attack lasted for three hours, with Lock continuing the assault every few minutes. On at least one occasion Mr Dabrowa 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 the bathroom, the court heard.

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.

The court was told towards the end Gary Timewell stamped on the victim's chest and Damien Timewell punched him in the face.

Police were called after a concerned neighbour raised the alarm and the three men were arrested.

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.

During their investigation the police obtained a sim card which had pictures of a beaten Mr Dabrowa, which Judge Patrick Clarkson said were 'clear evidence of a comprehensive beating'.

Sentencing, Judge Clarkson said: "Shane Lock, you are the worst of these by a long way. This is a very unpleasant, vicious assault on a vulnerable drunk who sustained nasty injuries over three hours.

"You humiliated him by urinating on him and threatened to pour lighter fluid on him.

"Gary Timewell, you kicked this victim when he was down, you witnessed a three hour sustained assault and did nothing to help the vulnerable person.

"Damien Timewell, I consider you to be on the periphery but you did punch the victim in the face."