A man who burst into an Everton couple's living room with a fake gun and a knife has been jailed for five years. Maurice Dodd, 33, of Westminster Road, Kirkdale, terrorised Michael and Linda Duffy in their Calder Road bungalow on the evening of July 7 last year.
Ordeal began with 999 calls
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Merseyside Police received a number of 999 calls from members of the public describing a young man in his underwear pointing a handgun at others near Mere Lane Neighbourhood Health Centre in Everton. Armed officers attended the scene, with Dodd also seen on CCTV pointing the imitation gun at passing cars.
Eric Lamb, prosecuting, described how Dodd then attended the home of Michael and Linda Duffy, then aged 89 and 67 respectively, and said: "The couple heard a bang at the back door and rustling in the kitchen. Then, their living room door burst open with the defendant appearing with the imitation pistol in his hand and a knife in his right hand."
With the knife taken from the Duffys' kitchen, Dodd demanded: "Where are they? If you don't tell me, I'll shoot you. Don't move or I'll shoot you." The husband and wife were left "not surprisingly terrified", although they had the presence of mind to attempt to calm Dodd down as he looked in and out of rooms of the property.
Feigned heart attack to summon help
The episode was estimated to have lasted around 30 to 40 minutes. Mr Duffy attempted to distract the armed intruder by telling him he needed the toilet before "slumping against the wall and feigning a heart attack". Dodd allowed his victims to call 999 as a result, but would not let them answer the door when an ambulance arrived. He eventually left via the rear of the property while wiping the door handles clean and telling the Duffys: "Don't tell them where I am."
Mr Duffy, who later died at the age of 90, said in a statement read to the court: "I felt incredibly shocked and couldn't believe it was happening. I've lived at my home for over 10 years, and this sort of thing has never happened." He added: "It all feels like a dream. I can't believe this happened to me in my own home. It feels like fiction, but I know it was real. The man could have shot me dead, and I could do nothing to protect myself."
Mrs Duffy said in her own statement: "I was sat with my husband watching the tennis at Wimbledon on the television when this man burst into our living room. At that moment, I felt numb and wanted to collapse." She added: "I immediately felt a wave of absolute shock and terror. This was something I just didn't expect."
Sentencing and aftermath
Dodd, who has 11 previous convictions for 19 offences, was subsequently seen in a neighbouring garden while armed with two pairs of scissors. Samples of his saliva taken following his arrest tested positive for cocaine.
Daniel Travers, defending, told the court: "He fully acknowledges that his behaviour that day had a significant impact on Mr and Mrs Duffy, who in no way deserved to be frightened in their home by his actions. Through me, he wants the court to appreciate that he understands it. He is remorseful and apologetic for it."
Dodd admitted possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, two counts of making threats to kill and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was jailed for five years. Sentencing, Judge Dennis Watson KC said: "By a very clever and quick thinking ploy, Michael Duffy feigned a heart attack. You just about felt enough sympathy to allow an ambulance to be called, although you did not let the ambulance in until you left, wiping down the door with a tea towel."
Dodd was also handed a restraining order banning him from contacting Mrs Duffy for the next seven years. Detective Chief Inspector Steve Ball said: "Everyone has the right to feel safe in their own home, and I can't begin to imagine the fear this couple must have felt seeing Dodd standing inside their property armed with a gun and a knife."
