Three gang members involved in a bloodbath at a Middlesbrough crack house have failed to win cuts in their jail terms.

The man who played the leading role in the violence, Danien Anthony Stephenson, also failed to get his three convictions for attempted murder overturned.

Paul Colin Ward, 26, of Percy Street, and Andrew Woodier, 24, of Albert Street, both Middlesbrough, were each jailed for eight years by Teesside Crown Court.

They were found guilty of three counts of wounding with intent and aggravated burglary last October.

Stephenson, 23, of Sceux Gardens Estate, Camberwell, London, was jailed for 17 years - 12 of which related to his convictions for three counts of attempted murder and aggravated burglary.

He received the extra five years after pleading guilty to four firearms offences, including possessing a firearm in a public place - in his car in London.

London's Criminal Appeal Court refused to grant the trio permission to challenge their sentences, rejecting claims that they were too long.

Mr Justice Mackay, sitting with Lord Justice Mance and Mr Justice Fulford, also refused Stephenson permission to appeal his crack house convictions - dismissing criticism of a video depicting eight different men shown to two identification witnesses.

In the early hours of March 17 last year a gang of people armed with knives and other weapons burst into a crack house in Albany Street, Middlesbrough.

Money was demanded and three occupants received life-threatening injuries.

Stephenson was said to have stabbed them using a Rambo-style knife, while Ward and Woodier were the back-up if needed, but did not inflict any injuries.

Less than a month later Stephenson was stopped by police in London and in response to a question revealed there was a self-loading pistol in the car.

The sentencing judge said Stephenson took the leading part in a premeditated violent and armed attack in which the jury concluded he intended to kill three people to reinforce his position as a drug dealer.

Mr Justice Mackay said that it was not arguable that 12 years was in any way excessive for the crack house crimes.

"Less than a month after those offences and in an entirely separate incident and some hundreds of miles away he was found in possession of a self-loading pistol," he said.

"The additional consecutive term of five years was not only justified, but required."

He also concluded the eight-year terms imposed on Ward and Woodier adequately reflected their roles in the crack house attack.