An addict who repeatedly "booted" a vulnerable pensioner in the face abused him to fund his drug habit.
Kieron Gill had taken over his victim David Bell's flat alongside other crack cocaine users - leaving him cowering under a blanket at the Anfield address.
The defendant admitted to robbing Mr Bell, who is in his 70s, just before Christmas last year.
Upon his arrest, he revealed his tyranny extended to marching the elderly man to a cash point, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Chris Hopkins, prosecuting, explained to Liverpool Crown Court : “Mr Bell now lives in a care home but at the time of this offence he lived in a flat in Richmond Court. It is obvious that Mr Bell was vulnerable. His flat appears to have been frequented by drug users and drinkers, including this defendant.”
On Sunday, December 20, a series of 999 calls were made to Merseyside Police - including by Gill - reporting that Mr Bell was being attacked by two men. Mr Bell also reported an attack to police in a conversation that, Mr Hopkins said, appeared to be “guided” by Gill.
When officers attended they arrested Gill and two others.
Mr Hopkins told the court : “They [the other two suspects] both said that the defendant was abusing Mr Bell and demanding money from him. They said the defendant kicked Mr Bell, possibly with a stamp-like kick.”
One said that Mr Bell handed Gill some money and that Gill then said: “I told you he would have something.”
Mr Bell did not make a complaint or provide his details to police - leading to the court being told he was simply believed to have been around 75 at the time of assault.
But while in custody, Gill told officers: “I want to confess something, I did beat him up, yes.”
Gill said he had extracted hundreds of pounds from his victim and claimed that, on one occasion, he marched him to a Post Office cash point on Breck Road. No evidence could be found to corroborate that claim.
The 31-year-old, already in prison for other offences that were not detailed in court, accepted he “booted” Mr Bell in the face four or five times.
Mr Hopkins said an examination of Mr Bell found he had fractures to his ribs and left collarbone and bruising to his face. However, investigators were unable to conclusively attribute all of the injuries to Gill’s attack and so he was prosecuted solely for the kicks to his head.
The court heard Gill had 10 convictions for 25 offences, including assaults.
Martin Walsh, defending, said: “Mr Gill was a man who was effectively obsessed with, and in the grip of, crack cocaine and alcohol. He tells me that he was almost out of his mind during this period. He accepts responsibility for what he did.”
Judge Anil Murray told Gill: “Mr Bell’s hospitality was abused by you and others who went there to drink and take drugs.”
He accepted the defendant had displayed remorse and sentenced him to five years and three months in jail.
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