A 41-year-old convicted killer has been sent to prison indefinitely for a vicious hammer attack on a man in his own home.

Despite being beaten about the head with the hammer, James Moore’s victim escaped without major injuries, but the assault caused him to be a prisoner in his own home.

Moore was sent to prison for the protection of the public after a judge said there was risk of him causing further harm.

Judge Michael Lawson, QC, told Moore that he would have to serve two years eight months before being considered for parole.

Paul Cavin, prosecuting, told Maidstone Crown Court that Andrew Halles was the victim of a vicious and premeditated attack.

Moore visited the home of Mr Halles in Hempstead Road, Gillingham, during the evening of January 14, armed with the hammer. He struck the victim on the head, knocking him to the floor.

“The defendant stood over him and rained down further blows,” said Mr Cavin. “There were also blows to the hands as Mr Halles put them in front of his head."

The police arrived as Moore drove off. “They found Mr Halles in the living room, bloodied and groaning,” said the prosecutor.

Mr Cavin said Moore was not arrested for about two weeks. He later tried to influence a witness in the case.

Moore, formerly of Gordon Road, Chatham, now of no fixed address, admitted attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and perverting the course of justice.

The court heard that Moore had a long list of previous convictions, including one in November 1992 for manslaughter, for which he was jailed for five years. The victim was another inmate at a prison in Norfolk.

In 1989, he was jailed for eight-and-a-half years for armed robbery of a Gillingham estate agesnts, burglary and escape.