A MAN who poured boiling hot water over two gay men while they were sleeping has been jailed for 40 years in the US.

Martin Blackwell was found guilty of eight counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated assault after his attack left the two men with severe burns needing surgery.

11 Marquez Tolbert cried as he described the immense pain he felt in the attack Credit: AP:Associated Press

11 Burn victim Anthony Gooden's hand is still recovering from the horrific attack which saw the young men scalded with hot water Credit: AP:Associated Press

11 Martin Blackwell did not take the stand during the trial Credit: AP:Associated Press

11 The horrific burns on Marquez's body led to weeks in hospital Credit: Gofundme

11 The crime was slammed as a 'soulless' act Credit: Gofundme

11 The men injured in the attack are still undergoing treatment for the horrific burns Credit: Gofundme

The 48-year-old, who plead guilty to the charges, had thrown the scalding hot water on Anthony Gooden and Marquez Tolbert in the early hours of February 12.

The court heard from Blackwell's victims, with Marquez Tolbert saying Blackwell had grabbed him and yelled: "Get out of my house with all that gay" after throwing the hot water at the pair.

Blackwell, a long-haul trucker who stayed at the house when he was in town, had seen the two men asleep in the lounge room.

11 Anthony Gooden was put in an induced coma for several weeks to help with his recovery from the attack Credit: AP:Associated Press

11 The pot which was used in the attack was shown to the court Credit: AP:Associated Press

11 The men involved in the attack struggled to contain his emotions during the trial Credit: AP:Associated Press

Tolbert sobbed as he recounted the morning of the attack, telling the court: "I woke up to the most unimaginable pain in my entire life," the Associated Press reported.

"I was wondering why I'm in so much pain. I'm wondering why I'm wet. I don't understand what's going on."

According to the initial police report, Blackwell told investigators; "They were stuck together like two hot dogs. So I poured a little hot water on them and helped them out.

"They'll be all right. It was just a little hot water."

The jury deliberated for about 90 minutes before coming back with the verdict.

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Fulton County Superior Court Judge Henry Newkirk said the evidence was "overwhelming" with the accused behaving in a "soulless" and "malicious" way, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Judge Newkirk said it took a long time for a pot of water to boil.

He said: "You had so many outs where the voice of reason could have taken over."

But Blackwell's defense attorney said the accused had poured water on the pair but said it was reckless conduct.

Monique Walker told the court: "It's not about hate. It's about old-school culture, old-school thinking."

She argued that he did not mean to hurt the young men, he simply wanted them to stop their behaviour.

The couple have now been left with horrific long-term injuries which required multiple surgeries and skin grafts.

11 Dr. Juvonda Hodge, assistant director of the Grady Hospital Burn Center, talked about severe burns during a trial for Martin Blackwell Credit: AP:Associated Press

11 Blackwell stayed silent during the trial Credit: AP:Associated Press

Gooden, 24, spent about four weeks in hospital with two weeks of that spent in an induced coma.

Tolert, 21, spent 10 days in hospital.

In a Go Fund Me appeal, Tolbert's family said: "Marquez and his friend were attacked simply because of who they chose to love.

"Marquez suffered severe burns to his face, neck, arms and back that required skin graft surgery.

"It was a ruthless attack that no one deserves."

Outside of court the men, who have remained friends after the attack, said they felt relieved.

Tolbert said: "I'm ecstatic. I think jsutice has been served."

Blackwell was not charged with a hate crime as Georgia does not have a hate crime law.

The FBI said it had been investigating pursuing a hate crime charge but a spokesman said the agency would not comment on the probe.

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