A spicy food fan has been jailed after parading a friend through the streets, tying him up and torturing him for stealing his tin of chicken curry.
Stuart Paul McPhee, 46, was furious when close friend Daniel Edwards admitted swiping a tin of curry from his flat and eating it in February last year.
Chester Crown Court heard McPhee lured him to his flat, tied his arms with duct tape and paraded him round his estate shouting "we've got a thief here."
He then falsely imprisoned Mr Edwards at his flat, beat him with a stick, cut him with a knife and poured bleach into the wound, which a judge said was "akin to torture".
McPhee, of Knutsford, Cheshire, has been jailed for 32 months for false imprisonment and given a 10-year restraining order so he cannot approach the victim.
Judge Michael Leeming told McPhee he was sure the intention was to humiliate Mr Edwards as well as punish him.
He added: "He was given a beating, although I accept the injuries he suffered weren't serious. The use of bleach was akin to torture.
"The incident arose due to a stolen tin of curry, meaning it was completely out of all proportion. You took the law into your own hands."
Prosecutor Matthew Dunford said the incident came about after Mr Edwards admitted stealing and eating a tin of chicken curry that belonged to McPhee.
McPhee lured his victim to his flat on the pretext of bringing bottles of cider, and once there, locked the door and the ordeal began.
Mr Dunford said: "He tied his hands with duct tape, before taking him outside.
"He paraded him around the estate saying 'we've got a thief here'.
"He then took him back inside and began beating him with bamboo sticks before he cut him with a knife and poured bleach into the wound.
"He covered his mouth with duct tape and the ordeal lasted for around two and a half hours."
After Mr Edwards pleaded with McPhee to let him go, he did, but told him not to tell the police - but Mr Edwards told his family and police were called.
Richard Conley, defending, said his client had been subject of electronic monitoring since May last year, which had massively affected his life and made him 'a prisoner in his own home'.
He added: "The incident had taken place after the pair had been engaged in binge drinking. He's plainly, an unconventional man who committed an unconventional offence."
