Two men have been jailed after they pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the Ibis hotel in Preston last year.

Nathan McManus and Anthony Butler have been sentenced to eight years and seven years respectively after they forced entry to a hotel room and attacked the male occupant in the Ibis Hotel in Broughton on October 13.

Two days after the attack, 18-year-old Butler, a 17-year-old and a 20-year-old were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary.

All three were released on bail until December.

At this stage the victim was in hospital with serious injuries but was recovering well.

After a protracted police investigation, Butler was arrested and charged with attempted murder and aggravated burglary in November and was remanded in custody.

Then on November 15, McManus, who is 24, was arrested and charged with the same offences was also remanded in custody.

The pair pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at Preston Crown Court in July.

McManus also pleaded guilty to two charges of wounding and possession of a firearm at the hearing in July. He was sentenced to a futher seven years with six of those to run consecutively.

The two other people arrested with Butler were not charged.

DCI Tim Leeson, who led the investigation, said: “This was a completely senseless and unprovoked attack, which took place in a busy hotel in the middle of the night whilst the victim slept in bed.

“The public of Lancashire can be reassured that attacks such as these are fortunately rare.

“Today’s sentence should send out a strong message that individuals who choose to get involved in gang culture and associated violence can expect severe sentences such as the ones handed out today and this should send a clear message that such behaviour won’t be tolerated in a civilised society.

“Lancashire Police will continue to target key individuals who involve themselves directly or indirectly in such activity.”