A MAN repaid a lone neighbour for his friendship by binding and robbing him in his own home, before taking his car and cash card to withdraw £300 from his account.

Steven Emmerson produced to 9 to 10in-bladed knife and threatened to slit his neighbour’s throat as he was making him a cup of tea in the kitchen of his home in Stanhope, Weardale.

Durham Crown Court heard that Emmerson falsely told his captive he had previously served 15 years for manslaughter before binding and gagging him, taping him to a chair. He demanded to know the whereabouts of his wallet, from which he took £15 cash and a bank card.

Chris Wood, prosecuting, said Emmerson also demanded to know the PIN number for the cash card, and for his neighbour’s ipad, which he used to transfer £300 from his savings to current account.

Warning him not to raise the alert, Emmerson took his neighbour’s car keys and drove in his car to a store, where he withdrew £300.

Dr Wood told the court that the victim managed to struggle free from the chair and went to a window, where his cries for help were laughed off by two passing strangers.

But he eventually managed to climb out of the window and stagger to a nearby home to raise the alert.

Emmerson was arrested later on Sunday February 24 at another nearby property.

The 44-year-old defendant, of St Thomas Close, admitted robbery, false imprisonment, having a bladed article in public, taking a vehicle without consent and theft.

Reading from the impact statement of the victim, Dr Wood said he was terrified he would be stabbed and so went along with Emmerson’s demands during the ordeal.

He is now frightened to stay at home, although returns daily to feed his pets, but sleeps at his parents’ home, 45 minutes’ drive away.

Dr Wood said the mature student also fears it will hamper his efforts to achieve a music masters’ degree.

Duncan McReddie, mitigating, said Emmerson, who has 17 convictions for 37 offences, recognises his actions were “horrendous”, but, at the time had a drug addiction, which had led to the loss of a job and a relationship.

Passing a determinate sentence of ten years, with five years’ extended licence period, Judge Jonathan Carroll said he considers Emmerson poses a risk of causing serious harm in future.

Emmerson must serve at least two-thirds of the ten years in prison before he can be considered for parole.