A violent burglar who broke in to an Ipswich flat and hit two men over the head with a hammer has been jailed for eight years.

Patrick Gallogly, of Burrell Road, Ipswich, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary at an earlier hearing.

One of the 42-year-old’s victim sustained a fractured skull and required 14 stitches to three wounds following the early morning attack.

The incident occurred in a first floor flat in Burrell Road at around 2.20am on July 29.

Initial reports to the police stated one of Gallogly’s victims, a 53-year-old, had been in his flat drinking and talking with a friend.

The pair would not Gallogly into the property so he broke in.

The 53-year-old told police he heard noises and someone shouting at him to get out of the flat.

It appeared Gallogly had taken issue with the two men being in the room together.

Officers were told the next thing the 53-year-old man knew he felt a pain on the back of his head.

Gallogly hit the man several times with a claw hammer, causing a number of wounds to his head.

The other man in the flat also sustained a single blow to the side of the head.

Paramedics treated the 53-year-old at the scene before taking him to Ipswich Hospital’s accident and emergency unit with a suspected fractured skull.

Despite his wounds the man was discharged the same day.

Police did not arrest Gallogly until two days later as he had left the scene of the crime.

He was suspected of the attack and his description circulated to officers throughout the town.

Gallogly was eventually detained in Civic Drive at 8.20pm on July 31.

He was charged the following day with aggravated burglary, remanded in custody, before being put before South East Suffolk Magistrates Court.

The case was then committed to the town’s crown court.