John Savage, aged 77, of Loppington, near Wem was left covered in blood from face and head injuries, including a fractured eye socket. He spent a week in the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and is still receiving eye and dental treatment more than a year on.

Chief Inspector Sarah Wagstaff said Mr Savage had shown remarkable courage and humility both at the time of the attack and in the months since.

“Fortunately, he is physically strong for his age, otherwise this could easily have been a murder inquiry,” she said.

“Mr Savage has shown tremendous fortitude and spirit in the face of this vicious and horrifying ordeal. The three men responsible showed him no mercy and they sought to steal money and his vehicle.

Chief Inspector Wagstaff welcomed the custodial sentences given to Matthew Wood (19), Daniel Jones (21) and Christopher Weaver (18) at Shrewsbury Crown Court today.

Wood was sentenced to a total of eight years and three months in a young offenders institution; Jones was jailed for six years nine months; and Weaver was given seven years 10 months in a young offenders institution.

She hoped the case would send out a strong message that criminals using violence could expect to face long sentences behind bars.

All three men admitted robbing Mr Savage of £20 and his Ford Ranger pickup on June 21, 2011.

The court heard Mr Savage was in bed asleep when they entered his home. He was awoken by a torch being shone in his face, frogmarched downstairs and forced to lie face down on the floor. The intruders used a belt to tie his hands behind his back.

They then stamped and struck him around the head and face while rifling his pockets to steal just £20 and the keys to his vehicle which was used as a getaway vehicle. It was recovered by police several days later in the village of Hanmer, near Whitchurch.

Chief Inspector Wagstaff said: “Despite his injuries, Mr Savage managed to stagger to a neighbour’s home to raise the alarm. He was badly hurt and someone of his age who was not so strong, might not have survived.

“As it is, Mr Savage has made light of his ordeal and his injuries. At times, he has seemed more concerned about the offenders, saying it is such a waste of three young lives.

“You have to admire his steadfastness considering the extent of the violence used against him.”

She added: “I’m pleased to say we were able to arrest the three offenders the day after the robbery. Crimes of this nature will always be a priority for West Mercia Police.

“We will do everything possible to arrest criminals who resort to violence, especially when they target older and vulnerable victims. This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated and when they go before the courts, they can expect to be locked away for a considerable length of time.”