Two men have been jailed for years after they punched a man unconscious and threatened to lock him in a cupboard if he didn’t pay them.

Darren Moss, 33, of HMP Bullingdon, and Paul Marshall, 34, also of HMP Bullingdon, have been sentenced for robbery and other offences in Milton Keynes.

Moss was sentenced to five years and four months’ imprisonment at Aylesbury Crown Court on Tuesday, October 3, while Marshall received four years and 11 months’ imprisonment at the same hearing.

Both men pleaded guilty to one count each of robbery, affray and assault of an emergency worker at an earlier hearing on June 6.

Marshall also pleaded guilty to one count of threats to kill.

The events unfolded in the late afternoon on October 24, 2020 after Moss and Marshall invited the victim, a man in his thirties, to their property after meeting him at a shop on Silbury Boulevard.

The victim sat with the pair socialising for a couple of hours at a property located on North Ninth Street.

When the victim went to the bathroom and returned, Moss accused him of stealing. The pair then attacked the man by continuously punching him in the face.

Moss told the victim they would let him go if he paid them £300. Otherwise, they threatened to lock him in a cupboard if he didn’t give them the money.

The scared victim provided his bank card and pin number. Then Marshall was seen on CCTV trying to withdraw £250 out of a cash machine at about 11.09pm, but this was declined.

Moments later at about 11.18pm the victim’s dad received a phone call from his son’s number. When he answered, a voice on the phone told him his son owed him money and he had been smashed up.

The dad phoned the police to report the incident.

The attackers told the victim there wasn’t enough money on his account before continuing the assault until the victim lost consciousness.

The men then allowed the victim to leave. After leaving the house, a member of the public saw him and took him to Milton Keynes Hospital.

The assault left the victim with a fractured eye socket, a fractured nose, extensive bruising and cuts to the head and body. He required a transfer to Stoke Mandeville Hospital for specialist care and assessment.

The following day on October 25, 2020 officers attended the property on North Ninth Street and arrested Moss and Marshall on suspicion of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm. The men were transported to Milton Keynes in custody.

While waiting in the van dock with officers, Marshall made multiple threats to kill officers. He repeated the threats around 50 times, stating that he would find the arresting officer and kill him and his family. Marshall was then further arrested for the threats to kill.

He then spat at another officer, who was stood outside the van. Marshall was further arrested for an assault on an emergency worker.

Moss was also seen spitting water over an officer whilst in the van dock. He was further arrested for an assault on an emergency worker.

Following an investigation, Moss and Marshall were charged by postal requisition on September 29, 2021.

Investigating officer Sergeant Siobhan Jones said: “Darren Moss and Paul Marshall have been given a significant sentence following their conviction.

“I hope that this result gives a message to others that the police will look to charge and convict those willing to partake in this level of crime.

“Thames Valley Police will continue to thoroughly investigate such crimes so that offenders can be brought before the courts to face justice.”