Four men declared a menace to society were yesterday sentenced to up to 14 years imprisonment by the Suva High court.

Eperama Nagalu, Jonacani Nacani, Penijamini Tuinaviti and Samuela unisei were found guilty by the assessors off seven counts of robbery with violence, larceny, damaging property and unlawful use of motor vehicle.

The four men, who on July 5th 2008, broke into a house in Suva armed with pinch bars, a garden fork and stones and threatened the owner and his wife with death to surrender their properties.

They ransacked the house and stole items valued at more than $5,500 before fleeing with the owners Landcruiser.

The four then went to the Suva Town House hotel, threatened the receptionist and stole $600.

A police vehicle tracked them down along Princess road and gave chase.

The robbers then drove the Landcruiser straight into the police van.

While the police officers were trapped inside the vehicle, the four attacked them with pinch bars and pieces of timber and seriously injured one of the officers.

The four, also stole items from the vehicle before it was abandoned in Kinoya.

Judge Justice Salesi Temo in his ruling stated that it was a cowardly organized home attack on an innocent couple and to add to their wounds, they caused extensive damages to their property and vehicle.

He said the attack on the couple, the Suva Town House and the Police officers, the four showed total disregard to the personal safety of others.