THREE men – including one from South Ockendon - have been jailed for a machete attack in Thurrock where they left a man for dead after a brutal assault. They were apprehended after a dramatic chase – captured on video by a police helicopter.

The victim, who is in his 20s, had been driving towards Arisdale Close, South Ockendon, at around 12.35am on 1 July 2020 when he was followed and then chased by a grey BMW X5.

As he then tried to get away on foot, he was chased and then attacked with machetes by two men who had been in the BMW. His attackers got back in the car and drove off, leaving him for dead.

He was treated at the scene and taken to hospital for what were considered life-changing injuries.

A witness was able to provide officers with a partial registration for the BMW and it was sighted in Brentwood at around 1.15am. When it failed to stop for officers, a pursuit ensued, and the BMW went the wrong way on the A127 at speeds of between 80mph and 85mph.

Officers used tactical contact to bring the car to a stop in a residential street in Rosebury Gardens, Upminster, where the people inside tried to flee on foot.

The driver, 22 year-old Bradley Dulieu, was arrested in the car, while one of the passengers, Talliq Mwalim, was arrested after a short foot chase.

The third member of the gang – 23 year-old Jay Hursham – made off over residents' fences and through their gardens before trying to hide inside a hot tub.

Armed officers, guided by a police helicopter, surrounded the hot tub, pulled Hursham out where, covered in blood, he was arrested.

Following a trial at Basildon Crown Court, on 20 December last year Hursham and Mwalim were convicted of attempted murder, while Dulieu was found guilty of GBH with intent.

At the same court yesterday (Monday, 28 March), Hursham, of Anton Road, South Ockendon was sentenced to 24 years in prison, 20 year-old Mwalim, of Rosebury Gardens, Upminster, was jailed for 23 years, and Dulieu, 22, of Heathway, Dagenham was given 10 years in prison.

Detective Superintendent Natalia Ross said: "This was a brutal and prolonged attack where these three men subjected the victim to extreme violence.

"They had armed themselves and hunted him down with the clear intent to leave him with significant injuries.

"Such was the ferocity of this attack, he is lucky to be alive.

"Then in an attempt to escape justice, Hursham, Mwalim, and Dulieu put the safety of dozens of other people at risk by travelling at high speed on the wrong way on a busy road.

"Their reckless actions show how little they value life.

"It is testament to the work of the first responders and medical professionals that the victim has survived and to the responding officers whose tenacity, dedication, and professionalism meant this gang were unable to escape.

"Now, thanks to our thorough investigation they will be spending the foreseeable future behind bars.

"Essex is a safer place."