A MOTHER from Harpenden lured a man who had been accused of being a sex offender to her home where her son and another man launched a brutal attack.

Deborah Chapman along with her sons Jason Chapman and Michael Keep yesterday began long jail sentences for their involvement in the assault which left the victim needing 60 to 80 stitches.

He was left with a permanent scar on his chin, three broken ribs, a punctured lung and three broken fingers. which left his hand permanently deformed.

The man spent 12 days in hospital following the attack at Deborah Chapman's home in Noke Shot, on December 18 last year, St Albans crown court heard.

Hertfordshire police carried out an investigation in the claims against the victim following the attack on him, but no action was taken.

Deborah Chapman was woken up at 3 o'clock in the morning by three people, who made the allegations against the victim. She called him round, claiming she was ill, and he was attacked by her son Jason Chapman and Michael Keep.

They hit him to the floor and was kicked and punched in what Judge Stephen Warner said was "a sustained, repeated and merciless attack."

Deborah Chapman, 53, was convicted of wounding with intent by a jury. Michael Keep, 25, and Jason Chapman, 22, both of Noke Shot, Harpenden pleaded guilty to wounding with intent.

Jason was also due to be sentenced for grievous bodily harm on November 7 2009 in which a man suffered a broken shoulder.

Carl Woolf, for Deborah Chapman, said although she made the call she played no part in the violence and called for an ambulance for the victim. "She did not run away and waited for the police and eventually confessed that she made the phone call," he said.

For Jason Chapman, Andrew Kerry said he had sent a letter to the judge apologising. "It was an aggressive outburst fuelled by alcohol and drugs. He was shocked by the extent of the injuries and put him in the recoveryposition to aid his breathing after the assault," he said.

Chloe Binding, defending Michael Keep, said he had been on drugs. She asked for his guilty plea to be taken into consideration.

The judge sentenced Jason Chapman, who had 10 previous convictions, to a total of seven years and three months.

Keep, who had 13 previous convictions, was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection. The judge said he would have received a six year sentence had he not received an indefinite term.

Deborah Chapman was sentenced to six and a half years - she received no discount because she had pleaded not guilty.