“He is clearly a danger to members of the public which was reflected in the sentence.”

Police said Sarfraz and two other unidentified offenders had sneaked into the house and confronted the victim, demanding his lap-top.

As the victim fought back he managed to unmask Sarfraz.

One of the young thugs smashed the man over the back and arm with a metal bar, leaving him with a broken arm.

The gang fled with the lap-top but bungled when they left behind the balaclava containing crucial DNA evidence which was linked to Sarfraz.

PC Moore said the victim, who was leaving in the tiny bedsit with his mother and sister, left the area a short time after the attack. The family are thought to have moved to Worcestershire.