A Thanet robber who attacked a disabled neighbour with a gardening fork was trapped by a message on Facebook.

Thug Adam Styles, 28, denied taking part in robbing stroke victim Colin Owen, who was punched to the floor.

But judge heard police found Facebook messages in which he made threats against Mr Owen, he changed his plea to guilty.

Now father-of-two Styles, of Princess Anne Road, Broadstairs has been jailed for eight-and-a-half-years for the attack.

The judge, Recorder Jonathan Higgs QC heard how Styles and another man had gone to Mr Owen’s flat in Dane Valley Road, Margate in January.

The court heard how initially Styles asked his neighbour, who had reduced mobility after suffering a stroke some years earlier, if he wanted to buy a laptop.

Prosecutor Alastair Walker told Canterbury Crown Court that when Mr Owen refused, Styles then asked to borrow £30 to £40.

“After that was refused, Styles became aggressive and demanded money, picking up a garden fork, pointing it at Mr Owen and threatening to stab him with it.”

The prosecution said that Styles, who appeared in the dock handcuffed to a security officer, then let another man into the flat and the two threatened the vulnerable victim.

Styles swung the fork around and damaged the walls as the other man placed a TV next to the front door. Both men then punched the victim.

Mr Walker said the attack only stopped when police arrived and the second man escaped. Mr Owen had been robbed of a phone, cigarettes and £20.

The judge told Styles that he had only pleaded guilty after the Facebook evidence was discovered; adding:

“At that you had little alternative but plead guilty. What you did was attack a disabled neighbour who had a right to feel safe in his own home and threatened to stab him.”