Brothers jailed after Christmas Eve axe attack

Reece Oakden (left) encouraged Leon Oakden-Gostling to go for the victim's head, according to police

Two brothers have been jailed after attacking a man with an axe as he lay sleeping in bed on Christmas Eve.

Leon Oakden-Gostling and Reece Oakden, who Nottinghamshire Police said were known to the victim, stormed into his Worksop home at about 23:00 GMT.

Police described the assault as "brutal", with the man suffering deep cuts to his arms and shoulder as he tried to defend himself.

The force said Oakden encouraged his brother as he hit the victim with the axe, which was left embedded in his arm.

Oakden-Gostling, 19, and Oakden, 28, were later arrested and declined to answer questions from officers.

According to police, the victim required two blood transfusions after the attack and told detectives if he had not got his arms in the way, he would have been struck in the head.

Oakden-Gostling, of Furnival Street, Worksop, admitted wounding with intent in June and was sentenced to six years in prison at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.

Oakden, of Queen Elizabeth Crescent, Rhodesia in Worksop, denied the offence but was found guilty following a trial.

He was also sentenced on Friday, to nine years in prison.

Det Con Chloe Baugh said: "This was a brutal attack on a man as he lay in his bed.

"He must have been terrified when the two brothers burst into his home swinging an axe.

"Thankfully, he was able to raise his arms in self-defence. Otherwise, the two brothers could have inflicted even more serious injuries or killed him."