Thief Michael Healy was jailed for two years after his neighbour was brutally beaten and robbed.

Healy, 36, maintained he did not lay a finger on helpless Brian Ripp, but he admitted stealing his furniture.

The attacker was Stephen McCauliffe who went with Healy to the victim's flat in Viking Court, Saxon Gardens, Shoebury, and asked to have a beer with him.

Once inside, McCauliffe, 39, commented to Mr Ripp: "You've got some nice stuff here. I bet you had to work hard for it."

Before Mr Ripp had a chance to answer, he was set upon by McCauliffe with a baseball bat and a flurry of punches, Basildon Crown Court heard.

The victim, clearly in agony, was then forced to sign a piece of paper to say he had received £60 for the furniture which McCauliffe had planned to sell in a shop.

Prosecutor Robert Flach said despite his numerous injuries Mr Ripp was made to suffer the indignity of removing the furniture to McCauliffe's flat.

The barrister said McCauliffe was later arrested and jailed for four years.

But accomplice Healy refused to face the music after his fingerprints were discovered in the victim's flat two years ago. He failed to attend court and twice went on the run.

When fugitive Healy was finally questioned by police he claimed he had made a legitimate transaction with Mr Ripp for the property.

He then changed his mind and admitted theft. Charges of blackmail and assault were left of file.

Healy was said to have previous convictions, including theft, burglaries and robbery, involving 70 offences.

He was told by Judge Zoe Smith that Mr Ripp had suffered "appalling injuries" after the two men had gone to his home.

She added: "Stealing your neighbour's property was a very unpleasant thing to do and the only appropriate sentence is one of imprisonment."

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