RAIDERS who held a man to ransom in his home were caught after calling their victim’s parents — who promptly rang the police.

Geoffrey Greenwood and Aaron Grundy forced their way into Michael Tansey’s flat in Halliwell in April, holding him at knifepoint while demanding money, allegedly for drugs.

Greenwood punched the victim on his doorstep before grabbing a knife from the kitchen and holding it to his throat.

Then Grundy called his parents after spotting their number on a note on the wall.

He demanded Mr Tansey’s father, Michael Patrick, pay up — before handing the phone to the victim, who told his dad one of the men “had a knife to him”.

But Mr Tansey’s mother overheard the phone conversation and called police.

Police quickly went round to the flat, disturbing the men, who were arrested nearby, with cigarettes and an iPod belonging to Mr Tansey.

The pair were yesterday both jailed for six years and eight months at Bolton Crown Court.

The court was told that after earlier meeting Mr Tansey in a shop, Greenwood and Grundy had followed him back to his flat and forced entry after he tried to shut them out.

The pair had shouted after him in the street that he owed them money for drugs, but the court was told that Mr Tansey said this was “completely untrue”.

Both defendants had been drinking before the incident, while Grundy had also taken cocaine, the court heard.

Mr Tansey suffered a four to five inch scratch to his throat, but no serious injuries, although the psychological impact was “very heavy”, the court was told.

Sentencing, Judge Timothy Clayson said: “This man was left with a four-to-five inch scratch to the throat and his cheek was tender from the punch.

“He estimates the whole incident lasted for about 15 minutes. He was terrified, particularly in the aftermath at the prospect of bumping into you.

“He is scared of living in this area and he is now intending to leave the area because of what has happened.”

Greenwood, aged 29, of Blackbank Street, Bolton, admitted a charge of robbery, while Grundy, aged 30, of Kempston Gardens, Halliwell, pleaded guilty to a charge of blackmail.

Both defendants were told they would serve half of their sentences in custody and the second half on licence.