Three thugs armed with a machete and a steak knife who terrorised a couple for the sake of £200 have been locked up for more than 17 years between them.

Emran Ahmed, 21, had only been out of prison for nine days when he, together with Kent resident Shah Ali, 27, and 20-year-old Hassan Abdullah, targeted two of Ali's neighbours at flats in The Cockpit in Marden.

Grandfather Dean Smith was left with a nasty injury after the hooded-gang, fuelled by drugs or alcohol, forced their way into the property and stabbed him with a machete.

The wound cut Mr Smith’s limb down to the bone and narrowly avoided a major artery. The victim also suffered injuries to his hand from a blade as he tried to protect himself from attack.

His friend Rosie Morgan, who was staying at the flat, had the same machete held to her abdomen and the knife to her throat.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how both had to flee their ordeal, which occurred late at night on January 5 this year, through a window.

A bleeding Mr Smith was left drifting in and out of consciousness, fearing he would die, while Ms Morgan had a glaring red mark caused by the pressure from the blade running from her left ear to the centre of her neck.

Although Abdullah was himself not armed, he was also on licence from prison at the time of the terrifying raid.

Police later found Ali, who lived in the same block, in his upstairs flat with bloodstained clothing and his accomplices within the vicinity of the building.

All three, who have more than 30 crimes to their names, gave 'no comment' interviews following their arrests but later pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary.

Ali also admitted wounding Mr Smith with intent to cause grievous bodily harm while Ahmed pleaded guilty to assault on Ms Morgan causing actual bodily harm.

Detailing the terrifying break-in, prosecutor Alexa Le Moine said it was at about 11.20pm that the victims heard tapping on the front door.

Ms Morgan looked through the peephole and could see Ali, who she knew as Carlos, who then appeared with three other males.

Ahmed then began to kick the door and, when it opened on the third strike, Mr Smith was hit in the face, causing him to stumble back against a wall.

The court heard the gang then rushed in, with Ali also hacking at the door with the machete and landing a blow to the resident's arm.

But Ms Le Moine said it was only after Mr Smith had escaped via a window and ran to a friend's address seeking help that he realised he had been stabbed.

"It was a deep puncture wound, and deep to the bone, but missing a major artery by just 1cm," she told the court.

"He was drifting in and out of consciousness....and thought he was going to die, feeling himself drifting off until significant pressure was applied to his arm to stem the bleeding."

Ms Morgan was also subjected to violence and threats in what was described as a "targeted strike for money".

"She was grabbed by Ahmed, who threatened her life and held a steak knife to her throat, demanding money," added the prosecutor.

"The machete held by Ali was also held to her abdomen as further demands for money were made from her."

But the court was told that having stolen £200 from a wallet belonging to Mr Smith, they became "agitated" and eventually released their grip, enabling Ms Morgan to also flee.

She later described her feelings of fear to police, how she was scared to return to the flat and had difficulty sleeping.

The entire incident, part of which was captured on CCTV in the communal hallway, lasted approximately two minutes.

The court was told Abdullah, of Cherry Tree Avenue, West Drayton, has four previous convictions for six offences, including robbery and possession of a bladed article, as well as possessing a handgun for which he was locked up for three years in 2021.

Ahmed, of Hopton Road, Streatham Hill, London, has eight previous convictions for 14 offences, including going equipped for theft and supplying drugs, while Ali, of The Cockpit, Marden, has eight criminal convictions for 12 offences, including robbery when he was just 17.

‘You must each now face the consequence of your actions...’

The court also heard that even while in custody awaiting sentence there had been reports of further violent behaviour and use of weapons by Ahmed and Abdullah.

Of the night itself, however, Oliver Kirk, defending Abdullah, said he had "tagged along" with his co-accused and played "a limited role in a serious offence", with no face covering other than pulling his coat up, no weapon and no involvement in any of the violence inflicted on the victims.

However, as Mr Kirk spoke of his client's family being "shocked and mortified" by his behaviour, a woman sitting in the gallery - believed to be Ms Morgan - reacted angrily.

In an emotional outburst referring to the impact on her mental health, she yelled and pointed at the defendants "I'm shocked and mortified by you, you, and you", before adding "You have made me a lot worse than I was. I've got to deal with this" and then storming from the courtroom in a highly distressed state.

She later returned but left for a second time, still visibly upset, as the judge was passing sentence.

Barry Cheeseman, on behalf of Ahmed, told the court how his early life experiences of trauma, exploitation and modern slavery had left him with a "skewed view of the world".

But referring to a report prepared for the sentencing hearing, the lawyer read out what his "apologetic" client had told the author in terms of his remorse.

Ahmed, who has a two-year-old son, stated: "What I did was completely wrong. They didn't deserve it. I have been the victim of attacks and kidnap. It's not nice.

"I'm ashamed, regretful and embarrassed as I was only out for nine days. It's mad, I regret it so much."

Eleanor Gwilym, defending Ali, told the court how he had witnessed domestic abuse growing up before being forced to leave home by his father when he was just 16.

She added however that despite his difficult background and criminal past, he had taken "positive steps" while in custody and had the support of his wife, with whom he has a five-year-old daughter.

Passing sentence on Thursday (July 11), Recorder David Vince said the incident was "extremely serious and disturbing".

He told the defendants: "You acted as a group, armed with a machete and a steak knife, to force entry into the victims' flat where you engaged in a short but violent burglary in which threats of violence were made, violence was carried out and money was stolen.

"At least two of you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol or both. The victims were left injured and in the case of Dean Smith, very seriously.

"Both Dean Smith and Rosie Morgan, who had a knife held to her throat and a machete to her abdomen, were left with substantial psychological trauma.

"You must each now face the consequence of your actions."

Ahmed, the judge added, must "of all people" recognise the effect on the victims by reason of his own "not dissimilar experience" from being kidnapped and "tortured" when he was just 13.

But Recorder Vince concluded that as Ahmed still posed a risk of serious harm and was therefore considered a "dangerous" offender, it was necessary to impose an extended sentence of six years and two months in order to protect the public.

This comprises a jail term of five years and two months, of which Ahmed will have to serve at least two-thirds before he can apply for parole. Then, once released, he will have any licence period extended by 12 months.

Ali, who the judge said had played the "most serious" role, was jailed for eight years, of which he will serve two-thirds. Abdullah was locked up for four years, of which he must serve half.

A fourth defendant, who cannot be named due to his age, is to be dealt with by the youth court for his alleged involvement in the raid.

Detective Constable Hayley Campbell said: “These men showed no hesitation in using extreme violence without any provocation.

“The victim attacked with the machete suffered several wounds, including one which narrowly missed a major artery. They also made threats to kill the woman, who was held at knifepoint.

“The evidence against them was overwhelming. No sooner had our patrols tracked down Abdullah, Ahmed and their teenage associate, searches by officers also led to the recovery of a bank card stolen which had been discarded within yards of where they were arrested.

“No-one should be left fearing for their safety in their own homes and I do hope the victims in this case can take some comfort and assurance now that these violent offenders have been brought to justice.”