A ROBBER who put an elderly couple through a terrifying ordeal in their home has been jailed for eight years.

The raid happened on the afternoon of February 15 as Donald Ballard 84, slept in the living room armchair and his wife Bettina, 85, was watching television.

Stephen Watkins, 23, of Hardy Avenue, Gravesend, used a serrated kitchen knife to threaten the couple who are both in their eighties, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

He entered the house through the kitchen door, taking the knife from the kitchen drawer and then went upstairs and searched the bedroom.

His noises alerted Mrs Ballard, who went to investigate and was confronted by him. She said: "He told me: 'Don't come near me,'" and held the knife high.

When Mrs Ballard said she didn't have any money, Watkins replied: "If you don't give me your money one of you will get this knife."

The noise woke Mr Ballard up. He went to put his hand in his pocket and he reached for his wallet but Watkins climbed on top of him and grabbed it. He fled with the wallet containing £350 cash and bank cards.