TWO brothers who terrorised a disabled man and used him as a ready supply of cash have been jailed for five years.

Drug users Brent and Robert West befriended lonely victim Andrew Halstead and then took advantage of his vulnerability to get at his savings, Burnley Crown Court heard.

On one occasion, Brent West, 38, frog-marched and physically dragged Mr Halstead to a cash machine and made him hand over £200 from his account.

His younger brother Robert, 33, also forced his way into Mr Halstead's home, took him by the throat and almost choked him while demanding cash, the court was told.

Judge Barbara Watson slammed the defendants' behaviour as "callous and ruthless" and said Mr Halstead had been particularly vulnerable.

She added: "Both of you have shown a lack of responsibility. Neither of you have shown any remorse and each of you have demonstrated a total lack of understanding of the impact of this behaviour on your victim."

Judge Watson said both defendants had a high risk of re-offending. Brent West, of Manchester Road, Haslingden, had earlier been convicted by a jury of robbery.

Robert West, of Brownhill Avenue, Burnley, had been found guilty of attempted robbery. Both had denied the charges. An allegation that Robert West breached an Anti-social Behaviour Order was left to lie on the file.

The court had earlier been told Mr Halstead, who lives in Haslingden, suffered mental health problems, was a former drug addict and was looked after by several carers.

Kate Blackwell, prosecuting, said on March 8, the victim was walking in Flaxmoss, Helmshore, when Brent West approached him and said: "I want some money from you. If you don't, I am going to beat you up and smash all the windows in your house."

Miss Blackwell said eight days later, Mr Halstead was at home when Robert West and another man turned up. She said West pushed the victim and demanded he hand over £100. He then grabbed Mr Halstead by the throat until the victim thought he was choking.

Mr Halstead managed to push his attacker away, ran to a phone box and called 999. Both defendants were arrested.

Anthony Cross, defending both brothers, claimed they had simply taken money off him without paying it back and took advantage of somebody who could not stand up to them.