A burglar who bound and gagged his victim and threatened to “put a hole in your head” has been jailed for 12 years.

Robert Green subjected Jeremy Lodge to a terrifying seven-hour hostage ordeal during which he held a knife to his throat and demanded he tell him his pin numbers.

Green was high on drugs and alcohol as he tied Mr Lodge up and told him that he was HIV positive.

The 38-year-old addict targeted Mr Lodge’s Paget home on January 30, this year; just a day after he had broken into the same property and stole $1,500 while Mr Lodge was out.

At about 11.30am on January 30 he confronted Mr Lodge at his front door, forced him back into the property and down the stairs and held him in a headlock until he passed out.

When Mr Lodge woke up he found that Green had his knees in his back and was tying his hands together with duct tape and wires.

In a victim impact statement read out during yesterday’s sentencing Mr Lodge said: “During the hostage situation he made numerous threats.

“He told me I would probably be all right if I did what I was told. He told me I looked like the kind of person who would want to save someone.

“He was smoking a rocklike substance and at the time I believed there were other accomplices en route.”

He added: “This ordeal has had a lasting impact in a variety of ways. I have many of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome and I find it difficult getting to sleep.

“I have nightmares and for the first time in my life I need sleeping tablets to sleep.”

Mr Lodge managed to escape from his confines later in the day on January 30 and ran to a neighbour’s home for help. Green was arrested shortly afterwards at his home in St George’s in possession of Mr Lodge’s stolen motorbike.

The court heard that he had a long history of previous convictions including violence and assault.

When asked if there was anything he wanted to say before being sentenced Green acknowledged that he was addicted to heroin and cocaine, but did not make any comments about the break-in or the ordeal he put Mr Lodge through. Noting his long list of previous convictions Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves branded Mr Lodge’s ordeal as a “quite horrific experience”.

He added: “These are serious offences, and there are very serious aggravating factors.

“You tied him up, you put a sock in his mouth and you left him.”

As Green left the court to begin his sentence Mr Justice Greaves added: “You need some serious help Mr Green. I would like you to get some serious help. If not, it is going to get worse.”

At last month’s Supreme Court arraignments session Green pleaded guilty to two offences of burglary, one count of robbery, and depriving Mr Lodge of his liberty.

He also admitted taking a motorcycle without consent on the same date and stealing $3,000 in cash belonging to the victim from ATMs in Pembroke, Paget and Warwick.

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