All were sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on 13 April.

Jack Dodds, 21, of Bure Lane, Christchurch was found guilty following a trial at the same court in November 2020 of offences of aggravated burglary, criminal damage and two counts of unlawful wounding. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Joshua Jackson, 18, and of no fixed abode, admitted offences of aggravated burglary and common assault and was handed a seven-and-a-half-year prison term.

The 16-year-old from Bournemouth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted offences of aggravated burglary and two counts of unlawful wounding at an earlier hearing and was jailed for six-and-a-half years.

All three were made the subject of an extended licence period of three years.

Shortly before 9.55pm on 28 May 2020 the female occupant of a property on Ford Lane opened her front door after she heard the doorbell ring.

The three defendants, who were masked and dressed in black clothing, barged through the door. It was reported that one of them was carrying an eight-inch kitchen knife.

A male occupant of the property was assaulted and left unconscious. He sustained head and eye injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. The woman was punched in the face and sustained an injury to her arm but did not require hospital treatment.

A quantity of cash was stolen, as well as a purse and wallet, before the masked offenders drove away in a white BMW.

Officers carried out a search of the area, assisted by the NPAS helicopter, and the vehicle was located in a car park at the end of Common Lane in Blandford.

Dodds was in the driver’s seat, with two other male passengers in the car. After verbal instructions by officers to get out of the vehicle, Dodds put the car in reverse and revved the engine. As the BMW left the car park, it caused damage to a police vehicle.

At around 10.55pm on the same evening the NPAS helicopter spotted the vehicle heading toward the Horton Inn. An enforced stop was carried out at around 11.10pm on the A31 near to the Boundary Lane roundabout and all three defendants were arrested.

A search of the vehicle revealed a quantity of cash that was consistent to what was stolen during the burglary.

Detective Constable Eleanor Jones, of Bournemouth CID, said: “This was an extremely frightening incident for the victims while their young children were present in the address.

“It is very lucky that the victims did not sustain more serious injuries, however they are still recovering from the incident.

“I am grateful for the actions of officers on the night that managed to locate the BMW and arrest the people involved.

“Dorset Police does not tolerate violence of any nature and we will always carry out a detailed and thorough investigation to bring offenders before the courts.”