Two men who tortured and stabbed a Shropshire man in a violent attack in his own home were today beginning lengthy jail terms – as police welcomed the sentences handed down.

Matthew Hale suffered severe injuries after being stabbed in the leg with a kitchen knife and was left lying in a pool of his own blood in his living room after the attack.

Detectives today described the incident as a “terrifying ordeal” which left Mr Hale with both physical and emotional injuries.

Yesterday Aaron Duncan Jones, 27, and Darren Bryn Davies, 35, were handed 10-year extended prison sentences for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm by a judge at Shrewsbury Crown Court. They admitted the offence at an earlier hearing.

Judge Robin Onions told Jones, of Stokeshay Avenue, Shrewsbury, and Davies, of no fixed address, the sentence meant a six-year and ten-month jail sentence and the remainder of the term under a strict licence.

Detective Constable Tony Hill, who led the investigation into the incident, today welcomed the sentences and said he hoped that it would allow Mr Hale, who is in his 20s, to move on with his life.

He said: “This was a particularly nasty incident where Jones and Davies visited the victim at his address in Harlescott in the morning of June 28, 2008.

“They broke a window and threatened to smash more unless he allowed them inside. Hoping to pacify them, the victim let them in but was then subjected a terrifying ordeal of torture before being stabbed twice in the leg.

“One of the stab wounds severed an artery but fortunately the victim was able to phone for assistance before he passed out from massive blood loss.

“Jones and Davies were arrested and charged, first appearing in court in June of last year. They later pleaded guilty to the offence at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

“The level of violence used in this attack was extreme and left the victim emotionally traumatised as well as physically injured.”

During yesterday’s hearing, Judge Onions said Jones and Davies were fortunate Mr Hale had managed to dial 999 following the attack as they had come “within an arms length” of facing a murder charge.

By Russell Roberts