Three jailed for Essex machete attack

Three men who attacked a 60 year old man with a machete in his Essex home and left him for dead have each been jailed.

The 19 and 26 year old's left David Woodrow with life-threatening injuries when they robbed his house in Maldon last October.

Shane Hawes, 26 of Mell Road, Tollesbury, Nicholas Hills, 19 of Rochford Garden Way, Rochford and Sonny Hall, 19 of Tylney Hall Avenue, Rochford all received prison sentences of eight years for attempted murder.

Ds Gary Robinson of Chelmsford CID said:"The motive for this violent attack on a man in his own home was robbery. The attack on David Woodrow with a machete left him with horrific injuries and his only method of communication was taken away from him leaving him unable to call for assistance. His injuries were so severe that he was treated in intensive care at Broomfield Hospital. This was a difficult case where detectives started with little information. However public spirited members of the community in Maldon came forward with information that assisted us with our investigation into this terrible offence and led to the three men being found guilty of attempted murder at Chelmsford Crown Court."

Prosecuting lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service Anil Patani said: “We are pleased this case has been brought to a successful conclusion. Mr Woodrow was attacked in his own home, by these three men who put him through a horrendous ordeal in a bid to get money from him. They fractured his ribs and used a machete causing one hacked wound to the shoulder and a large gaping wound near his neck.

“He is very fortunate that he was found by the police, and very lucky to be alive today. These men left him in this state and didn’t care whether he survived the attack.

“We hope he can now move forward positively with his life and put this incident behind him.”