Overview
- The two defendants, sentenced Tuesday at Newcastle Crown Court, received prison terms of five years and four years nine months and were given ten-year restraining orders.
- Prosecutors said the victim was held for more than 36 hours and tortured with repeated waterboarding, paint stripper, a cheese grater, hot liquid, and beatings.
- Police found the man bound in a bedroom with cuts, bruises, and burns and noted a strong smell of petrol at the scene.
- The assault followed the discovery that the victim had stolen £120 and spent it on cocaine from a man he called his best friend, which he said left him sure he would die.
- Defense lawyers said drink, drugs, and McHugh’s mental health issues fueled the episode and claimed he showed remorse by arranging the call to police.