A FATHER and son were locked up yesterday after a court heard how they robbed an old soldier in his home.

The 81-year-old widower, who lives alone, was considered "an easy target" by Robert Emery, 41, and his son, Darren, 19, who were looking for money for heroin.

Having pinpointed the isolated property the previous day, they slept in their car and called at the house, near Cornsay Colliery in north-west Durham, at 7.30am on a Saturday in May.

On opening the door, the householder was knocked backwards by the pair, who were shouting "where's the money?"

Durham Crown Court was told the victim was pushed over and forced into the kitchen.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said further demands were made and one of the men said: "Get the knife".

He was forced into a chair and punched repeatedly on the upper arm, while one of the men told the other to strike him on the legs with a poker. It is thought that the threat was not carried out.

"Fearing more violence, the man agreed to give them some money he kept in an ice cream tub in a kitchen drawer," said Mr Dodds.

Both grabbed bundles of about £100 each and then fled in a car, which also contained Robert Emery's partner, Beverly Rayner.

Part of the wheel trim was left at the scene and this, plus fingerprint evidence, led to the arrest days later of the three, who were living at Hartlepool's Ashvale Caravan Park.

Robert Emery told police he was suffering withdrawal symptoms and needed money for heroin. Darren Emery said they considered their victim "an easy target".

Mr Dodds said the widower suffered a broken bone in his hand, plus cuts and bruises, and was left feeling "very vulnerable" in his own home.

Defence barristers said both defendants were genuinely remorseful for putting the man through the traumatic ordeal.

Both men admitted robbery and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Robert Emery also admitted a further robbery, in which he and an accomplice took £10 from a man in toilets at Middlesbrough's Cleveland Centre, in February.

He was jailed for a total of ten years, including seven for the Cornsay Colliery incident. Darren Emery was sent to a young offenders' institution for five years.

Rayner, 32, who admitted handling some of the stolen money, was jailed for a year.