THREE thugs who carried out a brutal armed attack on a man, leaving him for dead, have been told they deserve every day of their tough jail terms.

Takeaway workers Mohammed Arfan, his brother Mohammed Nawaz and Mohammed Javed were each locked up for 16 years after being found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent at Burnley Crown Court in August last year.

They challenged their sentences at London's Criminal Appeal Court, with their lawyers arguing 16 years was 'too long' for their crimes.

But their appeals were thrown out by three of the country's top judges, who said the sentence handed to each of them was 'justified' in light of the 'appalling' offence.

The court heard Arfan, 37, of Manchester Road, Nawaz, 45, of Hardy Road, and Javed, 41, of Burnley Road, attacked bodybuilder Asif Hussain in Colne Road, Brierfield, on 20 June 2011.

Mr Hussain was on his way to a gym when the three pulled up in a car, jumped out and carried out a savage and sustained attack upon their 39-year-old victim - hitting him with hammers, knives and a hockey stick.

The victim, who was treated at the scene by two passing off-duty nurses, sustained 'life-changing' injuries including multiple stab wounds, a fractured skull and a broken leg.

Lawyers acting for all three men argued their sentence was over the top, saying the crown court judge didn't take enough account of the fact they had no previous convictions for violence.

They also argued the judge over-stated the injuries suffered by the victim when assessing the attack as one where 'greater harm' was caused.

But, dismissing all three appeals, Mr Justice King said the judge was entitled to reach the conclusions she did and the sentences were 'not excessive'.

Sitting with Lord Justice Davis and Mr Justice Kenneth Parker, he said: "This was, in truth, an appalling offence of its type - a very serious assault, pre-meditated, in a group, causing very serious injuries and without an ounce of remorse or contrition."