A thug blackmailed a man with learning difficulties and beat his brother until he was ‘unrecognisable’ during a horrendous campaign of violence.

Police say Leon Stephen Kay, 27, specifically targeted the ‘vulnerable’ victim because he had learning difficulties and subjected his brother to sustained physical abuse over several months.

He was repeatedly assaulted and needed a metal plate in his arm after one attack in which he suffered a broken arm.

Officers said the violence against one of the victims came to a head during a ‘sustained assault’ in February when Kay tied him up and went to the cash machine to withdraw money from his brother’s bank account.

On other occasions Kay forced the vulnerable victim to a cash machine, instructing him to withdraw money and hand it over.

Kay, of Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, is now facing a lengthy spell in prison after admitting false imprisonment, blackmail and two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm at Burnley Crown Court this week. He had previously denied the charges, but pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial.

DC Louise Briggs, of Accrington CID, said Kay is a ‘very volatile’ man. She said: “The victim suffered a broken arm last September and was too frightened to report it because of the violence and threats against him. Kay targeted them specifically because they were vulnerable.

“Kay is a violent individual that needed to be taken off the streets. If it had not happened to this victim it would have been someone else.”

Detective Sergeant Julie Cross, from Accrington CID, said Kay can expect a lengthy prison sentence. She added: “We are really happy with the result. It was a horrendous ordeal for the victim and the witnesses who were prepared to go to court and give evidence against Kay. The victim was quite traumatised by what happened.”

Kay was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Monday, September 16.