MASKED robbers, one wielding a knife, raided the home of an elderly couple, threatened to stab their dog and tied them up before making off with cash and jewellery.

The robbery in Cutnall Green near Droitwich involved three men but only the ‘lookout’ and getaway driver, Adrian Sharp, was ever caught after his DNA was found on the shoelaces used to tie up the couple, both aged 91.

The 52-year-old, who has since had his foot amputated after developing gangrene, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years on Monday at Worcester Crown Court after appearing via videolink from prison.

He hung his head and stared down at the table in front of him as his sentence was delivered by Judge Nicolas Cartwright.

Cathlyn Orchard, prosecuting, said Sharp’s basis of plea was that he had not entered the couple’s home but had driven his two accomplices away from the scene following the robbery.

Miss Orchard said: “This was a pre-planned, deliberate, targeted robbery.”

The court heard how the couple are still living in their home after the robbery, which took place at 5.40pm on Saturday, November 7, 2015.

The elderly man, who has heart problems and a pacemaker fitted, answered the door of his bungalow.

“He was confronted by two males, both wearing masks over their faces, one of them brandishing a knife who said ‘where’s the gold? Where’s the money?’ before then entering the property,” said Miss Orchard.

The robbers stole £100 cash but also demanded the £300 bracelet on the elderly woman’s wrist. She tried to remove it but struggled to do so and it was removed from her wrist by one of the robbers.

Miss Orchard described how the woman managed to hide her precious rings so they were not stolen.

The elderly man got more cash, between £200 and £300, from his bedroom and handed it to the robbers.

“One of the males made reference to stabbing their pet dog. They were concerned this dog might attack them,” said Miss Orchard.

The robbers demanded the woman’s handbag, taking £100 in cash from inside and removing credit and debit cards before the couple was told to go into the lounge and sit down.

The robbers left, removing the telephone to delay the couple calling the police.

Eventually they were able to get free and use a pair of scissors to cut the remaining ties from their wrists before hitting the panic alarm.

Police found Sharp’s DNA on the shoelaces and he was arrested on December 11 at his home address in Bromsgrove. Officers seized £350 from a safe in his bedroom. Sharp gave a no comment interview to police.

However, when he was in custody on other matters police bugged his telephone calls and recorded him talking about the incident at Cutnall Green, his DNA being on the laces and about him receiving the proceeds of this robbery.

Miss Orchard described Sharp as having ‘an appalling criminal record’ with 32 convictions for 121 offences, 79 of which were ‘theft and kindred offences’.

He was still on bail for the robbery at the time he committed a burglary on February 17 last year against a 69-year-old widow with heart problems who had known the defendant from when he was much younger, Sharp having grown up two doors away from her.

Lee Egan, representing Sharp, said the couple appeared to be ‘made of rather sterner stuff’ than other victims of such offences and stressed that they had not been ‘roughly handled’, the elderly male victim describing himself as having been ‘calm throughout’.

Mr Egan said of his client: “He’s suffered amputations already and that may not be the last of the amputations he has to undergo. He does express remorse.”

Judge Nicolas Cartwright described it as ‘a sophisticated, organised offence’ and he said there were a number of aggravating features, including Sharp’s previous convictions, elderly people being deliberately targeted, the steps taken to prevent reporting the crime and use of restraints.

The judge jailed Sharp for eight-and-a-half years which will be consecutive to the five-year sentence he is already serving.