A dangerous thug kidnapped his adoptive parents at knifepoint and trapped them in a car for the sake of £500.

Jack Bamford forced his way inside the terrified couple’s home in Folkestone and even threatened to kill their dog.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how two days later the 22-year-old then stabbed a taxi driver in Margate as he demanded the cabbie hand over all his money.

Bamford has now been jailed for 16 years, with a judge deeming him a dangerous offender.

The court heard that Bamford, of no fixed address, had ignored a recall to prison after breaching probation for separate offences, when he went armed to Peter and Anne Bamford’s home on March 21.

Wielding a six-inch blade, Bamford forced his way inside and demanded a sum of money, prosecutor Charlotte Oliver said.

Explaining he could be heard levelling threats against the couple and their pet dog, Ms Oliver said: “Peter described being in bed when he answered the door.

“[Jack] Bamford pushed open the door with a knife in his hand and began saying ‘Get back, get back, I want £500’.

“He said: ‘I don’t care about killing you - I’ll do 10 years for it’.

“The couple’s dog was going crazy and Mr Bamford said: ‘If you don’t shut the dog up, I’ll kill it’.”

After Bamford’s adoptive parents failed to produce enough money, he forced them into a car and drove to a cashpoint, the court heard.

As they pulled up to a petrol station in Cheriton Road, Peter got out to use the machine as Bamford threatened: “Don’t do anything stupid - I’ve got your wife.”

“What happened has left us feeling frightened and vulnerable, and nervous about answering the door...”

Peter got back in the car and gave Bamford the money he had withdrawn and then, at the defendant’s urging, drove him to Ramsgate to meet up with two female friends.

In a victim impact statement read at a sentencing hearing, Peter said the ordeal has left the couple scared for their safety.

“What happened has left us feeling frightened and vulnerable, and nervous about answering the door,” said Peter.

“To be in such fear that someone you love and care about is willing to cause you such serious injuries is the worst feeling in the world.”

Two days later, Bamford – who has racked up 40 convictions since the age of 13 – stabbed a taxi driver as he sought to steal more money.

“Look at my knife - give me all your cash...”

Mr Choudhury had been a cabbie in Thanet for eight years at the time he was attacked.

“He was waiting outside Margate train station when Mr Bamford got into the car and asked to go to Harbour Towers,” recounted Ms Oliver.

“Suddenly, he described feeling a sharp pain in the side of his chest.

“Mr Bamford said: ‘Look at my knife - give me all your cash.’”

The taxi driver emptied out his bag and handed over an assortment of notes and coins totalling about £30.

In the attack, Mr Choudhury suffered a cut underneath his left nipple and was later taken by ambulance to King’s College Hospital in London.

There, medics discovered internal bleeding around his heart as a result of the stab wound.

The court also heard how a year earlier Bamford had approached a man at Deal Station and said: “I’m going to stab you tonight”.

After demanding the man open his bag, which he refused, they both boarded a train bound for Folkestone.

Bamford was spotted on CCTV punching him in the face, causing a broken left cheekbone, broken nose and tooth.

“He is looking into the void – a very young man facing a lengthy sentence...”

Phil Rowley, mitigating, said Bamford was mentally young for his age and suffered a disrupted childhood.

“I don’t make any submission that seeks to minimise the very serious litany of behaviours spread over a number of days,” he explained.

“But he has gone through really difficult circumstances in his childhood.

“And while he is young in a chronological sense, your honour will know undoubtedly that his level of maturity is below his actual age.

“He is looking into the void – a very young man facing a lengthy sentence.”

A psychiatric report read out in court said Bamford had traits of ADHD and emotional instability disorder.

Recorder Alan Gardner KC told Bamford he was remorseless following the “spree of violent offending”.

Handing down an extended sentence after finding Bamford dangerous, he said: “It is clear you had a difficult childhood. You were frequently excluded, placed in a number of different care homes, but there is no evidence of remorse for these offences.

“I do find that you pose a significant risk of serious harm to members of the public, and an extended sentence is required.

“Over the course of four days, you committed a spree of violent offending.”

Bamford committed his latest round of offending while at large, after ignoring a recall to prison, the court heard.

The judge jailed Bamford for 16 years with a further four on extended licence. He will have to serve two-thirds before being eligible for parole.

Bamford admitted committing grievous bodily harm, wounding with intent, three counts of robbery and two of kidnap earlier this year before trial.

He also admitted a separate charge of grievous bodily harm with intent, relating to an incident in Ramsgate – the details of which cannot yet be reported because of a court order.

A charge of affray will lie on file.