A teenager armed with a samurai sword led a group attack on a man in his own home, demanding money after kicking in his door, in the early hours of the morning.

The victim was confronted by the masked trio as he was woken in his bed in his flat in Sherburn Village, at 5.30am on November 8, last year.

Durham Crown Court was told two of the intruders’ faces were covered by balaclavas and scarves, but he recognised the third as Harvey Crampton, whose voice he recognised, despite him having his hood pulled over his face.

Crampton had assaulted him in a previous incident, five days earlier.

(Image: Durham Constabulary) Chris Baker, prosecuting, said Crampton who was carrying the sword, was demanding that the victim should give them a lift and transfer money to them.

While the demands were made as the startled flat-dweller was lying in bed he was struck in the legs with a pole by one of the group.

He told them he could get money from next door, and, as he got out of his bed and made his way to the door, there was a scuffle during which he was struck over the head with the sword by Crampton.

The victim was also hit in the mouth with a weapon, cutting his lip and damaging a tooth, as well as receiving a further blow to a leg.

Mr Baker said during this stage of the confrontation one of the intruders was saying: “Chop him, chop him.”

Once outside, the victim made a bolt for freedom, running barefoot from the trio, who gave chase.

As he ran he was struck over the shoulder by Crampton, who was encouraging the others to join in, one of whom did so.

He managed to reach his grandmother’s home, where he quickly entered and locked the door.

The injured man later told police that he believed he was going to be killed during the incident.

Crampton’s DNA was recovered from the flat, while a crook lock for his car, which was recovered by police, was found to carry some of the injured man’s blood.

When the defendant was interviewed by police he gave no reply to questions.

The victim suffered lacerations to the head, back and shoulder, bruising to his leg, a cut lip and a chipped tooth, all inflicted during the attack.

He told police he knew Crampton, who he said was regularly pestering him for lifts, including days earlier, when, with another man, he made him drive them around and punched him in the eye.

It left him with a bloodshot eye and bruising.

In his victim statement, he said he could not believe people crept around his flat while he was asleep, making him feel vulnerable in his own home.

He said Crampton would not have known that he suffered with a brain injury from a car accident several years earlier, so he felt lucky to be alive having been struck over the head with the sword.

The victim said months later he still suffered from nightmares and often wakes, worried that the ordeal would happen again.

He said he still feels anxious and on edge, and is self-conscious as some of his scars have not healed.

Due to lingering post-traumatic stress disorder, he is considering seeking therapy.

For a while, he said he did not go out in case he bumped into the defendant.

He told police that Crampton was known for being violent in the local community.

(Image: Durham Constabulary) The defendant, of Bradford Crescent, Gilesgate, Durham, who was aged 19 at the time of the incident, but who is now 20, admitted charges of wounding with intent and common assault, but only on the day of his scheduled trial, on May 29.

His sentencing hearing was delayed to allow for the preparation of Probation Service and psychiatric reports.

But when the case came back before the court, on Friday (October 11), the hearing was told Crampton has seven past convictions for ten offences, including previous assaults and public order matters.

Mr Baker said there appeared to have been some planning prior to the offence in November, while the defendant played the lead role in what was a “group activity” and a persistent assault.

On behalf of the victim, Mr Baker asked for the imposition of a restraining order to provide him some future protection from the defendant.

(Image: The Northern Echo) Tony Davis, representing Crampton, said he could not oppose such an order being made.

Mr Davis said the reports prepared for the hearing outlined that the defendant suffered with negative adolescent experiences and has recently been diagnosed with ADHD, for which he receives medication.

“He presents with persistent symptoms of ADHD and emotional dysregulation and intolerance, but he admits he has a long history of drug abuse alongside his medical conditions.

“He has an unenviable record for such a young man, offences concentrated over the last five years.

“There is a lengthy history of unacceptable and anti-authority behaviour.

“He understands his problems need to be addressed.

“With medical conditions such as his, it’s, perhaps, not the wisest decision to abuse substances, which has led him into this position.”

But Mr Davis said the defendant has been engaging with mental health and drug addiction services available to him while in custody, where he has been drug-free, which is starting to have a positive impact on him.

Mr Davis added: “He’s still relatively young and this will be his first sentence of any duration, but it can only be hoped that he continues to engage with the services in prison.

“He also wishes to apologise, through me, to his victim.”

Judge Deborah Sherwin told Crampton he has a bad record but for nothing as serious as he is now facing.

She acknowledged he had a difficult upbringing and suffers with ADHD, but she added: “None of it is made any better if you take drugs.

“It only makes things ten times worse and has only contributed to the offences in the past and to the present offences.”

She urged the defendant to continue to put his time to good use while in custody as there will come a time when he is released and things may look better for him in the future.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo, by clicking here

Our flash sale is still on – 40% off an annual subscription. Get unlimited access to local news, enjoy our ad-free mobile and tablet app and read the replica of the paper on your device. Subscribe before it's too late, by clicking here

Judge Sherwin imposed a 54-month (four-and-a-half years) custodial sentence, she said it would have been five years, but for his late guilty pleas on the day of trial.

The judge told him he would serve up to half behind bars before he is released on licence, but the remainder of the sentence would then still be hanging over him.

She also put in place a restraining order prohibiting Crampton from contacting or approaching the victim, indefinitely.