TWO brothers who stabbed a man during a botched burglary will spend eight years in prison, a judge has ruled.

Westley and Steven Crooks were both armed with knives when they forced open the front door of an address in Arnhem Avenue, Aveley, on Saturday April 2.

The occupants - the 68-year-old man victim, his partner and his son - fled through the back of the house and into a neighbour’s garden to escape the weapon-wielding pair.

The dad was punched and fell to the ground before the burglars kicked him several times.

He was then stabbed in the arm and leg before the brothers stole a minibus from the driveway and fled the scene.

Fortunately the victim was not seriously injured, but required treatment at hospital Westley, 34, and Steven, 32, who both live in Seabrooke Rise in Grays, were later arrested but denied that they were involved in the attack.

The pair, both unemployed, were charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, burglary, and theft of a motor vehicle.

They admitted the charges at a court hearing on August 1 and were both sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday.

They were jailed for eight years for grievous bodily harm, two years for burglary and 12 months for theft, to run concurrently.

They were also given an extended licence of four years.

Det Con Owen Clements, the investigating officer, said: "The judge said they were both dangerous and made them subject to an extended licence.

"This means they will have to serve at least two thirds of their jail term before they can be considered for parole.”