A man who arrived at hospital with his severed hand in a box after it was hacked off during a punishment attack, refused to help police catch his attackers.

Stephen Scott was targeted when underworld figures discovered he was robbing drug dealers of their supplies and profits.

Details were revealed as William Willison was given an automatic life sentence for a catalogue of violence, including a drug debt torture attack, a punishment shooting and his part in the assault on Mr Scott.

Mr Scott was lured to a flat in Gateshead and in the savage onslaught that followed his left hand was sliced off with a machete.

Yet, when the police tried to find the thugs responsible, he remained silent.

The incident happened in 2002, but can only be reported now after reporting restrictions were lifted.

Willison, 35, of Oban Terrace, Felling, Gateshead, was sentenced on the basis he had been armed with a samurai sword during the assault, but had not been responsible for Mr Scott's injuries.

He staged the later torture attack with co-accused Gary Dawson in June last year, kidnapping a man who owed him £30 for drugs, binding and gagging him in a shed and pretending to electrocute him during a two-hour ordeal.

Hours later, Willison burst into the Gateshead home of a young addict who had complained about the cocaine he had been sold.

Willison, produced a Derringer pistol and shot him in the stomach.

He was convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent over the shooting and admitted further charges of kidnap, grievous bodily harm and unlawful wounding.

Dawson, 34, of Wardley, near Felling, was jailed for 14 years in August for his part in the torture attack.