Disabled man fights off armed robbers using bed warming pan Sentencing him, Recorder Edward Hess said: "This robbery was disgraceful, appalling and absolutely terrifying. The defendant has a terrible record for one so young. The court heard Scarrott was a career criminal with convictions dating back 10 years for violence, theft and damage. Scarrott and his accomplice, who was never caught, attacked Terence in his home in Ronkswood, Worcester, at 9.25pm on August 11. Peter Grice, prosecuting, told the court: "Mr Dimmock answered a knock on the door and was confronted by a man asking about a cat being run over. The ringleader then stuck the pistol into his cheek and said he wanted £30,000 which he believed was Mr Dimmock's redundancy payout. The victim told him he had lost his job 10 years ago and only had a wallet with about £100 in it. The court heard the gunmen hit Terence over the head with the pistol four times before he managed to grab the bed warmer which was mounted on the wall. Mr Grice said: "A struggle developed with Mr Dimmock being hit over the head with the gun before he grabbed the warming pan off a wall to beat off the attack." Scarrott got Terence in a headlock but the retired lorry driver bit his arm and the pair ran off screaming. Terence, who has a grown-up daughter and one grandchild, said yesterday (thurs): "I was watching television and heard a knock at the door. I opened it and these two big men asked if I owned a cat because they'd run one over. As I was starting to say 'no' they pushed me into the house and one of them shoved a gun in my face. They were shouting 'give us your money, you were made redundant and we want your £30,000 redundancy money'. I told them 'that was 10 years ago and I spent the money buying my house'. One of them started hitting me with the gun so I grabbed the pan off the wall and just lashed out. I got a couple of good shots in and the robber shouted at Scarrott to grab me but when he did I bit him as hard as I could on the arm. I'm not a violent man and just acted instinctively, I was so angry that two men had tried to rob me I wanted to kill them. They ran off and I managed to run to a neighbour who called the police. It's shaken me up a lot and I carry a knife in my pocket when I answer the door now. Terence, who lives alone, bought the pan warmer as an ornament from a car boot sale five years for £1. Officers took samples of saliva left on the bed warmer which matched Scarrott's DNA which was on the police database and arrested him on September 3. Fergus Maxwell, defending, said Scarrott had been brought up in care before starting a life of crime. He said: "Mr Scarrott fell under the influence of a gang who were more worldy-wise than he." The court heard Scarrott was "recruited" for the robbery by a man who he had sold stolen diesel. Recorder Edward Hess said the attack had a pyschological impact on Terence who was now a "changed man." He said: "Mr Dimmock is scared to venture out and constantly searches the faces of anyone he comes into contact with."