A man was subjected to a terrifying ordeal after he was imprisoned in a "drugs house" and feared he was about to be slashed with a knife.
The victim had visited the property in Hawthorne Road, Bootle , but once there he was locked in for five hours and demands for money were made.
Today two men appeared at Liverpool Crown Court to be sentenced for offences of false imprisonment and blackmail.
James Vasey, 37, and Jason White, 29, had both pleaded guilty - Vasey, of Hawthorne Road, Bootle, to blackmail, and White, who was homeless but gave his address as Camden Street in the city centre, to false imprisonment.
Prosecuting, Ken Grant said the victim, Gareth Murphy, had visited the flat in Hawthorne Road, where drugs were being taken.
Mr Grant said: "Once there, Vasey, because of some perceived slight by Mr Murphy, indicated that he'd been insulted and was entitled to compensation.
"Initially he demanded Murphy pay him £1,000, and threats were made by Vasey that he was going to cut the victim to his face and body if he didn't comply.
"The serrated knife was placed on a table or held in such a way that the victim could see he was serious.
"Gareth Murphy was distressed and fearful and tried many times to persuade his mum to put some money in Vasey's bank account."
Mr Murphy escaped after five hours when police were called to the address where he was being held.
Paul Wood, defending Vasey, said his client was a "long-standing drug user" but that no violence was used towards Mr Murphy.
Mark Phillips, defending White, said his role had been that of a "moody, menacing presence" to prevent Mr Murphy from leaving the premises.
The court heard that both Vasey and White had lengthy criminal records.
In addition, Vasey was in breach of two suspended sentences, and White in breach of a conditional discharge, at the time the offence was committed.
Judge Rachel Smith said only custodial sentences could be justified.
She jailed Vasey for three years and nine months, and White for two years and three months.
