THREE men have been jailed for a total of 21 years following a ‘vicious’ meat cleaver attack in Poole.

The trio, described as “dangerous men” by police, attacked two other men with a cleaver, a crow bar and a broom handle, at a house in Sea View Road last September.

John Sherwood, aged 26, and 22-year-old Anthony McDonagh, both from Poole, admitted the attack at Bournemouth Crown Court earlier this year.

Bournemouth man Sean Donaldson pleaded not guilty – but the 26-year-old was convicted after a trial in March.

Donaldson has now been given seven years in prison, McDonagh six years and nine months, and Sherwood six years and four months.

Following sentencing at Bournemouth Crown Court, Detective Constable James Taylor, of Bournemouth and Poole CID, said: “This was a vicious and deliberate attack by three dangerous men which was intended to cause serious harm.”

Armed police swooped on the Poole Road in 2013 following initial reports of a robbery.

Witnesses recall seeing someone being walked out of the property by paramedics with his face covered in blood.

One shocked victim, a 45-year-old man, was hacked with the meat cleaver, sustaining seven cuts to his head, hands and wrists.

Meanwhile, the other victim, aged 54, was battered around the head and face with the crowbar and broom handle.

Police arrested Donaldson within minutes of arriving at the scene. Later that evening, following a sizeable police manhunt – when neighbours were told to keep inside their homes – Sherwood and McDonagh were also arrested.

Detective constable Taylor said: “I welcome the severity of the sentences which shows that these crimes will not be tolerated.

“I would like to commend the quick actions of attending police officers and good witness accounts which contributed to bringing these men to justice.”