A VAGRANT survived a savage torture ordeal which left him with 17 stab wounds.

Homeless Lee English, 21, was conned into getting into a car with three men, who took him to a deserted car park, where they stabbed, slashed and stamped on him.

He was left with three stab wounds to his chest, one to his left shoulder, eight to his left buttock, one to his right buttock, one to his head, one to each thigh and one to his ankle.

During the attack one of the gang cut into his foot and a lit cigarette was stubbed out on his face.

His ears were sliced and his face and eyes slashed at with the blade.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Mark Rushfirth, Craig Rogers and Thomas Curry, armed with a knife and a screwdriver, even threatened to cut off his ears and nose during the midnight ordeal.

Mr English was left in a pool of blood after the attack at the Newcastle Business Centre car park.

However, despite his injuries, Mr English was released from hospital after just two days and did not require surgery.

The court heard that Mr English had been involved in a previous row with the men, but after meeting them in Gateshead he agreed to get into the car with them to get some drink and cigarettes.

Rushfirth, 22, Rogers, 23, and Curry, 24, were each jailed for seven years.

Curry, of Billsmoore Avenue, High Heaton, Rogers, of Strathearn Way, Fawdon and Rushfirth, of Westgate Court, all Newcastle, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and robbery.