TWO thugs gave a 64-year-old man a vicious beating – because they believed he had drugs in his Huddersfield home.

Jason Lee Robinson and Richard Calvert wore balaclava masks when they attacked Joseph Doyle in Lockwood.

Now both are behind bars.

Mr Doyle had tried to fight off the thugs with his walking stick, but was overpowered.

He was kicked and punched and had a knife held to his throat in an attack which left him with a fractured leg and head injuries.

Robinson, 38, has been jailed for 12 years for robbery after a jury at Bradford Crown Court found him guilty of the attack, which happened in February last year.

His co-defendant, 21-year-old Calvert, was sentenced to six years after admitting the same charge.

A third man thought to have been involved in the incident has not been traced.

Netherton pair Robinson, of Juniper Grove Mews, and Calvert, of Coppice Drive, struck at Mr Doyle’s home.

Mr Doyle was confronted by three men wearing balaclavas outside his home and tried to fight them off using his walking stick.

As he tried to run away he was caught, assaulted and had a knife held to his throat.

His attackers demanded the keys to his house and stole a 42-inch television and a few cannabis plants.

A Ford Focus used by the attackers was spotted by police on Meltham Road, between Lockwood and Netherton.

Three people ran off, but Robinson was arrested from the vehicle.

Mr Doyle was treated at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary for a fractured left kneecap and a cut to his head.

The two defendants were sentenced by Judge Shaun Spencer QC at Bradford Crown Court.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “The victim in this robbery was attacked simply because the suspects thought that there was cannabis at his home address.

“Robinson and Calvert lured the victim out of his house and subjected him to a vicious assault, leaving him with head injuries and a broken kneecap. We are pleased to see this pair now behind bars.”