A terrified mother was cooking dinner at her home when she turned around to see an intruder brandishing a hammer above his head, a court heard.

Barry Quinnell, whose face was covered with a scarf, calmly told shocked Sandra Budden: "Do as you’re told and you won’t get hurt".

Prosecutor Dominic Connolly told Maidstone Crown Court the victim was frightened and feared she was going to be hit with the weapon.

She screamed out for her 18-year-old son Sean, who was upstairs, and Quinnell ran out of the house in Tunbridge Wells, taking her bag with him.

Sean chased after him and Quinnell stopped and, still holding the hammer or mallet, threatened: "Don't make me do this Sean".

The teenager then realised he knew Quinnell through his younger brother. He grabbed the bag and Quinnell fled. Two sets of keys were missing from the bag.

Quinnell gave himself up at Tonbridge police station 16 days later. When interviewed he was aggressive and had to be told to calm down.

The 32-year-old repeat offender, of Elizabeth Garlick Court, Goods Station Road, Tunbridge Wells, admitted committing the aggravated burglary on January 3 this year.

Mr Connolly said Mrs Budden described in a victim statement how frightened she was for her and her son. She was now scared to be in her own home and felt "totally paranoid".

Quinnell, who has 25 convictions including burglary, robbery and other violence, was jailed for eight years under an extended sentence.

He will have to serve two thirds of the term before he can be considered for release and will be on licence for a further four years.

Judge Martin Joy said on Friday it was "hardly surprising" Mrs Budden no longer felt safe in her own home.

"It was a planned attack on a known victim," he told Quinnell. "I have come to the conclusion you present a significant risk to the public."

Quinnell protested as he was taken to the cells: "I didn’t mean to hurt anybody. Sometimes you have to be just a bit more open minded. You don’t know everything."