A masked gang went armed with a loaded gun, a knife and a baseball bat when they broke into a house to steal drugs and cash.

The four intruders meted out vicious assaults in the night time raid but fled empty-handed after one of the two victims managed to dial 999.

Two of the burglars tried to escape by climbing out of a window onto the roof and jumping. One fractured both heels. All were rounded up soon afterwards.

They were given lengthy sentences when they appeared at Maidstone Crown Court.

Richard Palmer, 28, Toby Earnshaw-Glazier, 22, Rhys Seager, 22, and Robert Peters, 20, all admitted aggravated burglary, two offences of assault causing actual bodily harm and possessing an imitation firearm, an offensive weapon and a bladed article.

Seager also admitted unrelated drug offences.

Palmer, of North Street, Barming, was sentenced to eight years and seven months, Seager, of Falcon Court, Peregrine Drive, Sittingbourne, to eight years and four months, Earnshaw-Glazier, of Bridge Road, Sheerness, to seven years and four months, and Peters, of no fixed address, to six years and 10 months youth custody.

Prosecutor Edmund Fowler said Stephen Onions and another man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were at the house in Cortland Close, Sittingbourne, late on November 23 last year.

Mr Onions was in the spare room watching a film, while the other man was in a loft conversion when they heard a noise downstairs.

Mr Onions’ bedroom door was flung open and a man wearing a white face mask and hood burst in holding a knife. Behind him was another man brandishing a baseball bat who struck Mr Onions in the mouth and demanded cash.

He was also struck on the arm. A third man appeared pointing a pistol at him.

Mr Onions, who was curled up on the floor, said there was no cash and a pellet from the BB gun was then fired into his left arm.

Some of the men had meanwhile gone to the other victim’s room, breaking down a barrier of a mattress, and demanded cash from him, One shouted: “We are going to kill you.”

He was struck on the head with the gun.

Adrian Rohard, for Seager, said the house was a drugs den. Police seized 149g of skunk cannabis and 4.47g of cannabis resin, as well as £820 cash.

Commenting after the sentencing, Detective Constable Craig Hewitt, said: "This was an extremely violent burglary that could have resulted in more serious injuries for both victims had police not arrived when they did.

"The four men involved gave no consideration for their welfare and seemingly little thought for the impact such a terrible crime would have on other people living nearby.

"I would like to pay tribute to the officers who attended on the night in question, who displayed tremendous initiative to hunt down those responsible in such a short period of time and ensure they were brought to justice.

"They are clearly a danger to the public and will spend a considerable length of time behind bars as a result."