Two thugs who terrified a town by robbing three houses at knife-point have had their sentences increased after Solicitor General Alex Chalk referred the case to the Court of Appeal.

Alfie Spain, 26, and Freddie Hanratty, 20, armed themselves with blades and travelled from London to the Isle of Sheppey where they targeted three homes.

At the first house in Alexandra Road, Sheerness, the victim was seen running into the road with a five-inch stab wound to his right shoulder. The thugs, one wearing a balaclava helmet, chased and lunged at him.

At the second in Victoria Street near the Rose Cafe the pair, wearing black Latex gloves, broke in with knives, smashed four mobile phones and stole £200 in cash and keys to a moped which they used for their getaway.

They later forced their way into another property in Queensway where two young children aged three and six were present and demanded "weed and cash" while holding a 10-inch kitchen knife to the face of the children's father, Henry Enright.

Mr Enright said later: "I am still in shock. These men burst in front of my wife and my young children.

"I am now frightened to answer my door. My wife has suffered 12 panic attacks following the incident.

"And my children have asked me every day 'Are the robbers coming back?' That breaks my heart.

"I genuinely believed I was going to be stabbed in my own house. I genuinely couldn't believe what was happening to me. I do not know if I will ever recover emotionally from this."

The attacks all happened on March 20 this year. The men even filmed some of the day on their mobile phones.

On September 27 both men, from Deptford, were found guilty at Maidstone Crown Court of conspiracy to commit robbery and possessing knives. Recorder Janet Bignall QC jailed Spain for six years and put Hanratty behind bars at a Young Offenders' Institute for four years.

After the sentencing, Solicitor General Alex Chalk QC MP referred the case to the Court of Appeal.

On Friday the court agreed the original sentences were "unduly lenient" and increased Spain’s jail term to eight years and three months and Hanratty’s to six years.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Chalk said: "Spain and Hanratty set off from London with the sole intention of committing these violent robberies.

"They inflicted a terrible ordeal on the occupants of the properties they targeted. The victims will be suffering the effects for a long time. I hope the Court’s decision to increase these sentences can bring some comfort to all of those affected."

Investigating officer PC Emma Laimbeer told the Crown Court: "Spain and Hanratty travelled from London with the sole purpose of committing violent robberies in Kent. The crimes were premeditated as they were armed with knives in advance. Their later actions at the three addresses were despicable. Three separate households suffered a terrible ordeal at the hands of these offenders. The occupants will be suffering the effects for some considerable time."

She commended the victims for their "courage and fortitude" in assisting the police to "bring these appalling men to justice."