Elijah Hind appeared angry at the victim’s refusal to buy anything from his accomplice, Tammy Hedley, and produced a knife, said to be of the type to carve meat, with a blade of about 9ins.
Durham Crown Court heard that the victim knew Hedley, as she had previously sold him items at the doorstep.
Once inside the property, in Horden, Hind told the householder he wanted money and grabbed his trousers, from the floor next to his bed, and shook them.
(Image: Durham Constabulary) Ellen Wright, prosecuting, told the court a phone and the victim’s bank cards dropped out and Hind picked them up from the floor.
He then “prodded” the victim with the knife causing red dots to appear on his t-shirt.
The householder tried to push the knife away, but at that point, Hind saw his car keys on a kitchen worktop and took them, before starting to walk out.
But as he did so, he struck the victim with something hard, thought to be either a walking stick or a metal bar, causing a laceration to the top of his head.
The victim was rendered briefly unconscious and recalls waking on the floor.
Miss Wright said both Hind and Hedley then left in the victim’s car, a Ford Mondeo, but were seen on CCTV only driving a short distance.
A witness, who saw them getting out of the vehicle and arguing with each other, rang the police to report the disturbance.
Officers recovered the car from the scene and found some of the victim’s bank cards in the foot well while others were discovered having been apparently abandoned in nearby bushes.
Miss Wright said the stolen phone was never recovered, however.
She said police officers recognised both defendants from CCTV footage and both were arrested together at a nearby address.
The 68-year-old victim was taken to hospital and the injuries to his head were treated with surgical strips, rather than requiring stitching.
But he had to spend two days in hospital due to fears over his high heart rate and blood pressure in the wake of the incident, in the early hours of September 22, last year.
He later told police he feared he “may not make it” as he came around lying on his bloodstained floor and is now fearful in his own home, having taken security measures, including installing cameras.
The loss of his car for some time also had an impact as he said he had to pay to have a locksmith open it, as the defendants also took his car keys.
Although initially charged with robbery, 24-year-old Hind, of Sixth Avenue, Horden, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary which was accepted by the Crown.
(Image: Durham Constabulary) Hedley, also 24, of 11th Street, Horden, admitted handling stolen goods and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, by allowing herself to be carried in the stolen car.
Paul Rooney, for Hind, said it was his client’s addiction to controlled drugs and alcohol which was behind the crime, to try to raise money to meet those habits.
He said the defendant has little memory of the offence due to his intoxication at the time and he has asked, through Mr Rooney, to apologise to the victim.
Hind is said to have used the drug and alcohol services within prison to try to ensure when he is eventually released, he can be, “a useful member of society, rather than being a burden”.
Calum McNicholas, for Hedley, said this was far away from her offending record, which has usually featured cases of shoplifting.
Mr McNicholas said the 999 call of the victim made it clear she was arguing with Hind about the violence he was using, trying to stop him during the incident.
Recorder Mark Giuliani said it is obvious that Hind became angry at the victim’s refusal to buy any items from Hedley and then took the various possessions, using the violence he did as he was leaving the property.
He said the victim clearly suffered stress in the incident, because of Hind’s aggression.
Recorder Giuliani said there was obviously some pre=planning with a view to obtaining money for more drink and drugs.
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He imposed a sentence of seven-and-a-half years (90-months) on Hind, saying it would have been ten years if he had taken the case to trial.
The defendant must serve at least two-thirds of the sentence before being released.
Recorder Giuliani passed a four-week sentence on Hedley, which due to the time she has spent in custody prior to the hearing, would allow for her immediate release on licence.