A man who had his leg hacked off by three attackers armed with a machete, axe and sledgehammer was left so scared he lied in court to save them.
Max Lambert, 34, Liam Whitaker, 39, and Liam Hanbury, 41, chopped the man's leg off at a house in Spinners Close, Huddersfield, on January 18, last year, with the motive "obscure", reported YorkshireLive. A judge said they had a "clear aim to kill" as he jailed them for 30 years.
Neighbours heard the screams and a machete was believed to have been broken in the attack that also involved an axe and a sledgehammer. The man had his leg chopped off and it had to be sewn back on below the knee.
The trio tried to cover up their tracks - even burning the car they had travelled in - but the victim was able to name Lambert as one of the attackers.
But despite the fact the trio had been charged, the terror of the attack had traumatised the victim so much that he did not want to give evidence.
At the sentencing at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday, it was heard that the victim failed to turn up at the trial.
The court was told that when seen by an officer on January 28, 2022, the man said he was "scared of repercussions if he gave his account to police."
Judge Tom Bayliss KC said: "He seems to have been subject to intimidation and on 6th May he gave a statement."
In the statement, the court heard, the man said he had heard rumours he would be killed if he gave evidence at court.
Then on June 6 he gave a statement exonerating the defendants and failed to attend court that July and was arrested. He spent around two weeks in custody before giving evidence which exonerated them. The prosecution were ordered to treat him as a hostile witness.
Judge Bayliss said: "He is paranoid and anxious and manifested itself in his behaviour."
The court heard about the defendants' seemingly normal backgrounds and family life. To anyone who did not know what he had done, Hanbury seemed a perfect family man with children and a longtime partner.
He was also a businessman. His background, alongside Whitaker's and Lambert's make their offending all the more confusing and concerning.
Ayaz Qazi, mitigating for Hanbury, summarised a letter written by his partner of 17 years.
He said she "speaks highly of his family dynamic, his love for his children and his focus in life he has always demonstrated towards them young children and speaks of activities he engages in and wellbeing issues he attends to."
The barrister said: "She describes, having known of his criminal behaviour, how he is someone who has struggles." The court heard at the time of his offending he "got up, well up on his feet in terms of business."
Benjamin Newton, for Lambert, said the offending was "wholly out of character" for him. The court heard Lambert has started his own business and "it is quite clear he seemed to turn his life around after his last custodial sentence before this offence."
Mr Newton said Lambert is an "attentive father" and a sentence will have an effect on his children.
Whitaker represented himself and only spoke to confirm if the court had received his references. It was said he has 29 previous offences for those including robbery, conspiracy to burgle, violent disorder and assaulting a constable.
Hanbury has 40 previous for 89 offences. His last was in 2021 for a road traffic management. He also has two previous convictions for ABH, common assault and battery, possession of an offensive weapon and production of cannabis.
Lambert has 43 convictions and his last was a burglary offence. He also has previous for GBH.
It was said for the defendants that their violent convictions had taken place when they were younger. For Lambert, Mr Newton said: "As an adult it's mostly dishonesty or production of cannabis.
"There is a very small spree of offending when he was 15." These offences include a robbery. Mr Newton said after a detention and training order he did not commit another offence of violence.
Lambert of Romanby Shaw, Bradford, was found guilty of attempted murder following a trial which concluded in September last year. Whitaker, of Poplarwood Gardens in Bradford, and Hanbury of St Paul's Road in Shipley were both found guilty in a retrial which came to an end in December last year.
They were all jailed for 30 years. They were told they must serve three quarters of that sentence in custody before going before the Parole Board who will determine if they are safe to release. Once released, they must serve five years on licence. They were all concluded to be dangerous offenders.
Hanbury must also serve a consecutive 19-week sentence for possession of cannabis.
Judge Bayliss said the offence of attempted murder was "Gratituous, violent, bordering on sadistic and involved a number of weapons."
He added: "This was a carefully planned offence in which of you had a clear aim to kill [the victim.]"
Following the sentence Detective Inspector Rob Stevens of West Yorkshire Police, said: "These three men inflicted dreadful injuries on their victim in what was a brutal assault which we and two jury's believed was a clear attempt to commit murder. Their attack on the victim resulted in him suffering life changing injuries and the savagery of their attack has been reflected in the very substantial sentences handed down by the courts.
"These men were swiftly tracked down and arrested in a comprehensive police investigation following the attack and I hope the victim can take some comfort from seeing these men jailed for such lengthy periods."
Chief Superintendent Jim Griffiths, District Commander of Kirklees Police, said: "The very significant sentences given to these men make plain that those who think it is acceptable to carry weapons and also use them, can expect to spend many years behind bars. I can also promise criminals that, as this case demonstrates, West Yorkshire Police will use every resource it has to hunt down and bring to justice those involved in serious violent offending.
"We continue to appeal to residents across Kirklees to contact authorities if they have any information about knife crime or serious organised crime.
