Joe Cordon, 29, Jack Spackman, 25, and Kyle Worthington, 21, have been sentenced for violence offences in the wake of two attacks last month.

In the first incident, Cordon blocked a bin lorry with a car before proceeding to punch the truck driver repeatedly and hit the lorry with a lollypop stick.

Half and hour later the perpetrators approached another bin lorry and Cordon, Spackman and Worthington, armed with an axe, a sledgehammer and a firearm, attacked the collection team and the truck.

A teenage boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also involved.

In total, four members of the collection team were taken to hospital with head, facial, leg and foot injuries.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader Jane Ashworth said: ‘These were shocking and completely unprovoked attacks on hard-working crews.

‘We are thankful justice has been served. We hope today’s sentencing will bring some comfort to the victims and their families and send a clear message: we will not tolerate violence or abuse against our staff in any circumstances.’

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