A VICIOUS armed robber attacked a couple with a piece of wood with a rusty nail sticking out of it as he turned their home into a bloodbath, a court heard.

Peter Horrocks, aged 67, and his fiancee, Lesley Banks, aged 52, who are now married, believed they would be killed during their ordeal at the hands of Christopher Fletcher.

Bolton Crown Court was told Fletcher, of Macdonald Avenue, Farnworth: ● Smashed his way into their isolated bungalow through a patio door.

● Rained down up to 30 blows on the head and body of Mr Horrocks as he led the couple around demanding money.

● Stole £1,300 in cash and £3,500 in jewellery, including Miss Banks’ engagement ring.

● Attacked police officers with a glass candlestick, leaving one with a broken hand.

Yesterday, Judge Elliot Knopf labelled Fletcher a danger to society and locked him up for a minimum of five years and 19 days as part of an indefinite jail sentence for public protection.

He said: “Their home, which is their pride and

joy, and which is clear to me they viewed as a sanctuary where they could enjoy their lives together in their latter years, was located off the beaten track in an isolated spot in Blackrod. And they had the misfortune to cross your radar.

“Whatever may have been the reason on that night, you behaved in such as way as could only reach the limits, if not surpass the worst nightmares that any law-abiding citizen may suffer.”

Geoffrey Southcote-Want, prosecuting, said the attack took place at 8pm on October 25 last year.

Mr Horrocks noticed a man in his neighbour’s garden and returned home to call the police.

He told Miss Banks before they both turned to see Fletcher standing at their patio door, illuminated by the security light.

The court heard that Fletcher “raised himself up like a Samurai warrior” and began smashing through the glass as the couple froze in terror.

Mr Horrocks managed to call police before Fletcher got inside and threw the phone on the floor and stamped on it.

Mr Southcote-Want said: “He had armed himself with a piece of wood the size of a baseball bat, with the added feature of a rusty nail at the end of it.”

He repeatedly smashed Mr Horrocks over the head, demanding cash.

Whenever Miss Banks tried to help her fiance, he attacked her, too.

The couple gave him cash and jewellery.

Mr Southcote-Want said the couple were already fearing for their lives when he threatened to kill them if they did not give him their PIN numbers.

It was at this point — 11 minutes after the 999 call — that a team of police officers arrived.

As one officer tried to rugby tackle him to the ground, Fletcher hit him across the back with the post. They both fell to the ground and began to struggle.

Fletcher managed to get away by wriggling out of his T-shirt and he ran into another room.

He reappeared wielding a glass candlestick above his head and ran into the back garden, chased by the officers who managed to control him with CS spray after a violent struggle.

Mr Horrocks suffered multiple fractures to his face as well as a large cut to his lip, further bruising and swelling.

Miss Banks suffered a large wound on her head, a broken cheekbone and heavy bruising to her face.

Mr Southcote-Want said the couple would never recover from the psychological scars.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Horrocks said: “I don’t think I can ever convey the full impact and the life-changing aspect of this crime. I have never felt fear like it in my life.”

Detective Sergeant Rob Parker, of Bolton CID, said: “This was a savage attack on two innocent people in their own home, leaving them with nasty injuries and a home ravaged by one man who seemed to have no regard for their life or wellbeing.”

Fletcher pleaded guilty to two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, one count of aggravated burglary and one count of causing actual bodily harm with intent to resist arrest.

Hunter Gray, defending, said Fletcher was disgusted and sickened by his actions, which he said were brought on by anger-management issues and alcoholism.

The court heard Fletcher had been jailed for 20 months for two counts of attempted robbery in 2006 and eight months in 2008 for assault and possession of an offensive weapon.