A COUPLE who held a vulnerable, lonely man captive and subjected him to a “nasty and prolonged attack” over two days have been jailed for four years.

Anthony Vickers, 50, was subjected to a “violent and sustained assault” at his home in Godfrey Close, Wood Farm, Oxford, on April 10 and 11.

It ended when he escaped out of his bedroom window.

Lewis Cyprien, 21, of Liddell Road, Cowley, and Charlotte Barton, 25, of Bonar Road, Headington, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and false imprisonment.

Oxford Crown Court heard on Thursday that the duo punched, kicked, bit and stabbed Mr Vickers, who tried to escape through his front door. The couple caught him and locked him in his bathroom overnight.

The next day the pair attacked Mr Vickers again.

Sandra Beck, prosecuting, said the couple regularly visited the home of Mr Vickers, who has mental health problems, to smoke heroin.

They arrived at the flat, with Cyprien at first leaving Barton alone with Mr Vickers.

When Cyprien returned, he found Barton lying on the bed with Mr Vickers.

Ms Beck said: “This prompted a violent reaction from him and as a consequence he came to beat him up.”

Ms Beck said both started to attack him after his failed bid to escape.

She said: “Mr Cyprien began stabbing Mr Vickers’ arms with a six-inch kitchen knife.”

The next day Mr Vickers was attacked again and Cyprien threatened to slit his throat.

Mr Vickers was forced to give them his post office account card and PIN number.

Mr Vickers, who was covered in blood, eventually escaped through a window and begged a woman to call the police.

He had multiple stab wounds on his hands, and neck injuries.

Judge Gordon Risius said: “He was profoundly affected. He has been left with scars and his leg still aches. He has had to move to a different area, leaving behind some belongings he was unable to move.

“He remains a scared and lonely individual.”

Det Sgt Simon Hannam, from Oxford CID, said: “We are pleased with the sentences for what was a nasty and prolonged attack.

“I hope the knowledge that the pair are now embarking on a long period behind bars will help the victim move on from this horrific crime.”

Cyprien was jailed for 18 months in 2012 after plunging a knife into the buttocks of a shopper in Cowley.

Barton has convictions for offences including disorder.