Three men who held a machete to a robbery victim’s throat have each been sentenced to five years in a young offender’s institution.

The men, aged between 18 and 20, broke into the ground floor flat in Turnpike Lane, Sutton on April 25 about 4pm armed with the weapon and carving knife.

They forced a lounge window open after failing to kick down the front door and confronted the victim who was on the phone to police.

The attackers held the machete to the victim’s throat and shouted: “Where’s the money?” and “What have you got?’’ They then proceeded to ransack the flat but were caught red-handed by police who were quickly on the scene.

The three men were sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on January 7, 2009.

Daniel Broom, aged 20, of Primula Street, London pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary.

Tyrone Downer, aged 18, of Hendon Way, London pleaded guilty to burglary and was found guilty of aggravated burglary.

Ade Omisure, aged 19, of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary.