THE IMPACT of knifeman Kazm Saed's crimes on his three elderly victims was outlined in court yesterday (Friday).

To help the judge, Recorder Paul Garlick, sentence kidnapper Saed, statements were read on behalf of the victims.

First victim, Mr Deacon, 84, has never returned to his Riverway home to live, since he discovered Saed in his bedroom last May.

He underwent a terrifying ordeal when Saed stole his bank card at knifepoint, took away his mobile phone and cut the light cord with his knife, leaving him in darkness.

Mr Deacon called the police as soon as he was able and outlined exactly what had happened to him.

In the victim impact statement, Mr Deacon's daughter said he did not seem immediately seriously affected by the incident, but as time went on, he became preoccupied with it.

He repeatedly went over the events as if he was being forced to re-live them, and it cast a shadow over his life, with his memory deteriorating rapidly since.

Saed's next victims were Rachel and Graham Fuller, just a few days later.

He burgled their home at Nunnery Lane in Newport, kidnapped them against their will and robbed them of £600 at a cashpoint.

Their bravery and stoicism was outlined in court.

Mrs Fuller said afterwards in her victim statement that "one of the most wounding things" was the thought that if they lost their lives at Saed's hands, it would be "gruesome" for their children.

Mr Fuller, a retired clergyman, said one upsetting thought running through his head during the ordeal was that he wouldn't get to finish writing his autobiography if he was killed.

Isle of Wight County Press: The Fullers' country cottage where the kidnapping took place.The Fullers' country cottage where the kidnapping took place.

Recorder Garlick is recommending all three victims for bravery commendations.

Recorder Garlick said the ordeal the Fullers were put through was particularly horrifying, with Mr Fuller suffering the humiliation of being naked when the assailant woke him at knifepoint and made him get dressed.

The judge told Saed in court: "It was made worse that you sat in the back seat with Mrs Fuller, with Mr Fuller knowing at any moment you could have used the knife on his wife.

"It's hard to imagine anything more serious."

Saed was sentenced to 13 years in custody.