A burglar posing as an Amazon delivery driver nearly severed a man’s thumb with a machete in front of his child.

Lenard Coates, 23, forced his way into a flat in Square Hill Road, Maidstone, shortly after 9am on March 21 this year.

Wearing a high-visibility jacket and carrying a parcel as a prop, he tricked his way into the block before confronting a family inside one of the properties.

Once inside, Coates threatened a man, woman and their young child with a machete.

He then launched an unprovoked attack, inflicting severe injuries to the man’s hand and stealing £2,500 in cash and a watch.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene and the victim taken to hospital for specialist reconstructive surgery.

He suffered life-changing injuries.

Officers quickly identified Coates’ van and located it within two hours of the break-in.

Forensic work and CCTV footage led to his arrest and subsequent charge.

He later admitted aggravated burglary, causing grievous bodily harm, and being in possession of a knife in a public place.

Coates, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday (October 29), to eight years in prison with an extended two-year licence period.

He was also given a 15-year restraining order.

Detective Constable Lottie Bishop, who led the investigation, said: “Coates violently assaulted his victim, leaving him with life-changing injuries, to walk away with a relatively small sum of money.

“The lengthy custodial sentence appropriately reflects the viciousness of the attack, which he carried out in front of the victim’s partner and young child, with complete disregard for the impact of his actions.

“We hope the family find some comfort in knowing Coates will be locked up and unable to inflict harm on others.”