by Julia Roberts

A man who robbed a pensioner at knifepoint in his Sittingbourne home has been given an indeterminate jail sentence.

Barry Groombridge, 26, knew his victim Brian Thomsett from when he had been in the local cadet corps and Mr Thomsett had been an instructor.

Groombridge, who has previous convictions for violence, including biting a teenage girl on the face and neck, must serve at least five years and three months before he can be considered for parole.

Passing sentence at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, Judge Jeremy Gold QC told the former grammar school pupil: "This is a long and substantial sentence for you and it has probably come as something of a blow. But you must understand you must change your behaviour before you are let out of prison."

Groombridge, of Kingsmill Close, Sittingbourne, admitted robbing 66-year-old Brian Thomsett in October last year. Fuelled by drugs, Groombridge and an accomplice who has never been traced, called at Mr Thomsett's home just before midnight.

Having pushed their way in, Groombridge held Mr Thomsett in a headlock while the second man, identified only as "Drew", repeatedly punched him in the face while demanding his bank card.

He was also threatened with a knife and had his wallet stolen.

The pair then took Mr Thomsett's car keys and he was ordered into the back seat of his Fiesta. Groombridge then drove them around Sittingbourne. He and Drew discussed where to buy drugs before stopping at a cashpoint and withdrawing £200 from their victim's bank account.

Mr Thomsett - who suffered broken nose, two black eyes and a cut to his face which needed five stitches - was eventually dropped off back at his home and Groombridge and his accomplice fled.