Five masked robbers who tortured a businessman and stabbed his pet dog were today locked up for 101 years.
Cab firm boss Chris Davidson was tied him up with electric cables and beaten up by the Merseyside gang, who travelled across the county to raid his home near Hull.
Mr Davidson’s Achilles was sliced and his finger was cut to the point where it was nearly severed.
The gang threatened to kill the 52-year-old’s elderly mum and stabbed his pet bulldog as they demanded access to a safe.
Mr Davidson’s housemate Neil Collingham was stabbed and his ear was almost sliced off.
Today, David Lewellyn, 29, John Tuffy, 28, Daniel Jones, 26, Jamie Hayes, 30, and Mark Platt, 30, were all jailed for a combined 101 years after admitting aggravated burglary.
Jamie Hayes from St Helens
Lewellyn, Tuffy, Jones and Platt also pleaded guilty to wounding with intent.
A court heard that the men raided the house in Willerby on March 9, telling Mr Davidson he had “seriously p****d someone off”.
They were armed with knives, had a key to Mr Davidson’s safe and demanded £50,000 from it.
Daniel Jones, 25, from Prescot
Both men up were tied up with cables. When Mr Davidson attempted to free himself, one of the gang slashed his Achilles.
Feisty, a French bulldog, was knifed in the stomach after the men threatened to cut off his head. The pet required emergency surgery.
Detective Constable Dan Brittain, the officer in the case, said: “This was a particularly brutal attack that left both victims with quite significant injuries.
“This investigation was extensive and involved colleagues in both Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, all of whom assisted in the capture and detention of the suspects after they fled the scene as well as assisting in the securing of evidence.
John Tuffy from St Helens
“Many hours work went into preparing this case for court to secure guilty pleas from the defendants which meant we were able to avoid putting the victims through the trauma of giving evidence in court.
“The level of violence used by the men in this case was absolutely unnecessary. The perpetrators have now quite rightly been brought to justice and the public are much safer as a result of these violent offenders being sentenced to terms in prison.”
The ordeal came to an end when Mr Davidson convinced the attackers that his safe was not inside the house.
The crooks were arrested following a high-speed police chase on the M62, while Hayes was picked up at his home in Merseyside later that day.
Mark Platt from St Helens
Jones, from Maryville Road, Prescot, was jailed for 22 years, as were Lewellyn, of Recreation Street, Tuffy, of Harefinch Road, Platt, of Belvedere Avenue, all St Helens.
Hayes, of Hartley Grove, St Helens, was jailed for 13 years.
Speaking of his ordeal, Mr Davidson told the Hull Daily Mail: “It was the worst night of my life.
“My home, where I should have been safe, was invaded by masked men.
“I am now hardly able to sleep and I don’t know if my ankle will ever be fully healed.”
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/