Moorcroft, who had taken a cocktail of drink and drugs, punched him several times to the head, while his accomplice kicked him repeatedly.

The men then stole his wallet, before speeding away in his car.

Damien Webb, prosecuting, said as Moorcroft raced off, leaving the former doctor in the street, his accomplice shouted racial abuse. Judge Duncan jailed Moorcroft, who has previous convictions for robbery, wounding and affray, indefinitely for public protection and ordered he serve a minimum of two years for the robbery before being considered for release.

Moorcroft, of Ivory Drive, Kirkby, is already serving a nine-month term for possessing ammunition.

Judge Duncan added that Moorcroft had an “appalling record” – getting his first conviction when he was just 15 for stealing another boy’s paper round money.

Nicholas Walker said: “He has shown a great deal of shame and remorse, the former doctor Mr Singh having saved Mr Moorcroft’s grandfather on a couple of occasions.

“Years down the line, he has put him in a hospital situation.”