This is the face of a man who terrified an elderly couple in their own home.

James Delaney threatened to kill the 77-year-old man and his accomplice punched the 74-year-old woman as they raided their house in Coalville.

His photograph has now been released by Leicestershire Police.

The 38-year-old and his accomplice pretended to be from the gas company to get into the couple's home and steal their belongings.

The couple were forced to sit on their sofa during the midday raid on June 10 during which more than £8,500 worth of jewellery was stolen.

When the wife attempted to stand up, Delaney, said: "If you do that again I'll kill your husband."

His accomplice, who had been searching upstairs, came down armed with a large screwdriver demanding to know where the money was.

The wife said they kept their money in the bank and when she tried to stand up the unknown accomplice punched her in the face, causing her to fall backwards onto the settee, in Lillehammer Drive, Coalville .

Joey Kwong, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court that the raiders, who called on the pretence of reading the gas meter, made off in a getaway car, a stolen Mercedes.

Mr Kwong said the couple were "very scared" and felt very unsafe, fearing a return visit.

The getaway Mercedes, worth £18,000, was stolen by persons unknown in an earlier burglary.

Bearing false number plates, it was left by the robbers in a hotel car park in Market Bosworth, near Hinckley .

Two days later Delaney was driven to collect the Mercedes by an associate, Amos Wilsher, in a stolen Peugeot vehicle.

The police arrived and Wilsher, who was already banned from driving, drove off at speed leading the police on a five-minute pursuit of up to 80 and 90 mph along the A447 to Nailstone village.

His dangerous driving came to an end when a pursuing police officer caused the Peugeot to stop in a hedge and both defendants were arrested.

Delaney was found to be in possession of £1,120 in cash, which was confiscated by the court to compensate the robbery victims.

Delaney's barrister, James Bide-Thomas, said: "The best mitigation is his admission of guilt.

"He has a bad record but his last offence was 13 years ago.

"He's supported in court by his family.

"His wife is pregnant with a further child and he has considerable family responsibilities.

"He's very sorry to find himself in court again.

"He knows he's going to prison and wishes to express sorrow for his offending.

"It was the other person (the unknown robbery accomplice) who was involved in violence and he says he didn't punch anyone - and the evidence tends to support that."

Delaney, of Drywell Court, Northampton, pleaded guilty to robbery, handling a stolen Mercedes and possessing £1,120 of criminal property.

He was jailed for a total of seven years.