A young mother and her infant son were subjected to a terrifying ordeal when two armed teenagers, one wielding an axe, forced their way into their home in the dead of night.
The Midnight Invasion
The incident occurred in Rhayader, Powys, at approximately 12.40am on August 2. The peace of the night was shattered by the sound of breaking glass and loud bangs as Ryan Lee Polverino, 18, and his accomplice smashed their way into the property.
Awoken by the commotion, the resident opened her bedroom door to find two figures standing in her hallway. Both intruders had their faces concealed by snoods. When the brave mother demanded to know what they were doing, one of the youths replied, "Where is it, tell us where it is."
A Terrifying Confrontation
Fearing for her safety and that of her crying baby, the woman quickly retreated back into her bedroom. Before she could secure the door, Polverino struck it with his axe, aggressively repeating his demand: "Where is it? Where is it?"
In a crucial moment, the victim recognised Polverino's voice. She told him that she knew his mother. This prompted the teenager to lower his snood, revealing his identity. He then admitted, "We have got the wrong f****** place, we have got the wrong person."
According to prosecutor Emily Bennett, Polverino then apologised to the woman. He promised to pay for the damage and begged her not to contact the police. Despite this apology, the court heard that the young offender had already ransacked the victim's bedroom and continued to approach her while armed with a knife.
Sentencing and Aftermath
When the mother warned him that neighbours had likely already alerted the authorities, Polverino issued a chilling threat: "If you call the police, I will come back for you." The two intruders then fled the scene but were later apprehended by police officers near a local leisure centre.
At a sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court, Polverino, from Llandrindod Wells, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article. In a victim impact statement, the mother revealed the lasting psychological trauma, stating she now avoids groups of young people.
In defence, Hannah George highlighted Polverino's unstable upbringing, lack of family support, and trauma. She noted he began abusing alcohol and drugs at 14 and left school without qualifications. However, Judge Daniel Williams handed down a sentence of four years and six months in a young offenders' institution. He also imposed a restraining order lasting 10 years.
