Two men who blackmailed a terrified drug user into handing over almost £900 have each been locked up for four years.

Richard Large and Zack Brownson threatened Phillip Collins with guns, telling him "the main man" would kill members of his family.

A judge told the 20-year-olds they had inflicted appalling victimisation and made the victim’s life a complete misery.

Large, of Nine Acres, Kennington, and Brownson, of no fixed address, denied blackmail but were convicted.

They were cleared of a firearms offence. Judge James O’Mahony said if they had been convicted of that charge the youth custody sentence would have been in double figures.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Mr Collins bought £180 worth of cannabis from Brownson on credit.

Brownson then told Mr Collins the main man wanted his money. Mr Collins met Brownson and Large, also known as Buller, and paid the £180.

In September last year, Brown phoned the victim and told him the main man was "going mad". Buller went on phone and demanded £800.

When Mr Collins said he could not pay, Brownson told him he had no choice and his mum, dad and brother’s baby would be killed.

Mr Collins withdrew £200 from a cash machine and handed it over. Further threats were made and Mr Collins parted with more money.

While he was at Ashford police station reporting the matter, he received a call from Buller demanding £1,500 to stop the main man going to his house and shooting his family.

A police officer heard a voice say: "My kids are all upset now cos I am waving this gun around."

Judge James O’Mahony said the Appeal Court had previously described blackmail as an ugly, vicious offence, inviting loathing and contempt and requiring a severe sentence.

The maximum sentence was 14 years imprisonment.

The only crime the victim had committed, he said, was to buy some cannabis on credit.

Large and Brownson committed the blackmail over a period of weeks using a "hard cop, good cop" routine.

"I saw the effect the threats had on Mr Collins," said the judge. "I am sure he was terrified at the time and terrified when he gave evidence.

"Without significant previous convictions you dived straight into the depths of crime at a very high level, deliberately and with calculation."