A man was subjected to a terrifying eight-hour torture ordeal which left him begging for his life, a court was told.

Gary Clark was attacked by two men who burst into his flat and subjected him to repeated attacks, it was alleged, during which he was injected with bleach, smashed over the head with a bottle, burned with cigarettes stubbed into the wounds, and beaten with a rolling pin.

He was also threatened with his ear being cut off and his genitals attacked with pliers.

The two men alleged to have carried out the attack have pleaded not guilty at Southend Crown Court to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and false imprisonment.

They are David Glover, 35, of Witchards, Basildon and Edward Jackson, 27, of Coopersales, Basildon.

A third man, Paul Rose, 29, of Whitmore Way, Basildon, has also denied a charge of false imprisonment.

The jury was told that the three accused believed Mr Clark had given Jackson's former girlfriend Hepatitis C during a brief affair last September.

Prosecuting, Tayo Adebayo told the jury how the alleged attack at Mr Clark's flat in Clopton Green, Basildon, had been carried out in revenge.

He said the attackers carried out a number of beatings.

Salt and vinegar are also claimed to have been rubbed into his cuts and it is alleged the men threatened to rape Mr Clark's 12-year-old daughter.

Mr Adebayo, said: "He was repeatedly assaulted, humiliated and effectively tortured."

The court heard how during the alleged ordeal Mr Clark was made to get into a freezing cold bath to try and clean off some of the blood.

It was then claimed he was taken by taxi to Rose's flat where he escaped after being left alone by the front door to get some air.

Mr Clark said: "After the bottle hit my head I was quite dazed. They were talking of killing me then."

The trial continues.

By Sarah Hutley

Reporter's e-mail: sarah.hutley@notes.newsquest.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.