Two "merciless" thugs who tried to execute a disabled teenager by chopping his head off with an axe were jailed for a total of more than 36 years today.

Jamie Healey, 23, pinned 17-year-old Luke Demetriou to his bed while Ronald Dwyer, 22, rained down eight blows on his head, at his Borehamwood home.

The carefully planned attack, on the first day of the 2010 World Cup, came at the culmination of a long-standing feud between Dwyer's father Terry and Mr Demetriou's family.

The victim, who was born without his right hand and right food, cowered under the bed, then tried to protect himself by raising his hand, Snaresbrook Crown Court.

But he was repeatedly slashed by the axe, leaving him fearing his only remaining hand had been permanently damaged.

Dwyer and Healey left him in a pool of blood at his home in Dacre Road, as they made their escape in a stolen car.

The pair then attempted to cover their tracks by concocting a false alibi, with the assistance of Healey's father, construction boss Robin Minchin, 42, his employee, Paul Kimpton, 49, and Susan Small, 53.

Mr Demetriou was found by a neighbour and rushed to hospital, where he spent five days recovering and needed surgery.

In a victim impact statement, he told how immediately after the attack, he had no movement in his arm and required help with eating and going to the toilet.

He has since been left with long-term injuries and has limited movement in his hand, making simple tasks like holding a cup of tea difficult.

The sales assistant said: "While growing up I have accepted that there was general threat towards my father and I coming from the Dwyer family.

"This was always a general threat that I learned to live with.

"On June 11, 2010, this general threat changed into a violent attack and one that I will never forget and one that has changed my life.

"In general terms, I want to be able to move on in my life but ask the question - why me? Why attack me with an axe? What did I do to deserve such a violent attack?"

Dwyer was convicted of attempted murder after a trial by jury. Healey was acquitted of attempted murder, but convicted of wounding with intent and perverting the course of justice. Sentencing Dwyer to 22 years in prison and Healey to 14 and a half years, Judge Inigo Bing said: "This crime of attempted murder was an horrific attack on Luke Demetriou.

"It was, in reality, an execution where Ronald Dwyer planned to decapitate Mr Demetriou by cutting off his head with an axe.

"You planned that carefully and although Jamie Healey did not know the full extent of your intentions, each of you made every effort to cover your tracks.

"It was only by the most meticulous police investigation that arrests were made."

He added: "Mr Healey held Mr Demetriou down during the frenzied attack with an axe.

"He valiantly tried to avoid the attack by hiding under his bed.

"The evidence from an expert witness in the trial established there were eight blows to his head and the axe was swung many times in an attempt to kill him.

"During the terrifying ordeal in his desperation to protect himself, he out his left hand to his head.

"This was also badly injured by the swing of the axe then your victim had to suffer the anguish of believing his only usable hand had been rendered permanently useless.

"That must have been a terrible thought for him having been born with a defect.

"It was a merciless and brutal attack and you left him for dead as you made your escape in a stolen car, taking pains to conceal your plans."

Minchin and Kimpton were both found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and were handed jail terms of three years and 18 months respectively. Dwyer, of Loughton, Essex, denied attempted murder.

Healey, of Theydon Bois, Essex, denied attempted murder and perverting the course of justice.

Minchin, also of Theydon Bois, Kimpton, of Loughton, and Small, of Redwood Drive, Hemel Hempstead, denied perverting the course of justice.

Small is due to be sentenced on Wednesday after her barrister was taken ill.