A burglar armed with a knife has been jailed for three years after targeting an elderly couple in their Newcastle home, following a dispute over queue-jumping at a bus stop.
Anthony Young, 45, of Merlay Hall, Walker, Newcastle, pushed his way into the couple's home on September 10, 2022, and stole a wallet. The victims had encountered Young at a bus stop the previous day, where a short verbal altercation occurred about him skipping the queue.
Burglar pushed into home
Newcastle Crown Court heard that Young attended the couple's home around 6pm. The man, who has motor neurone disease, did not initially recognise him, but his partner did and reminded him of the incident the previous day. Young apologised, and the man told him to think nothing of it.
However, Young then pushed his way into the house and went into the kitchen, where the couple had been preparing to eat. He tried to sell the man something, but he declined and asked him to leave as they wanted to have their evening meal.
Young then said "if you don't like that you won't like this" and grabbed the man's wallet from the bench and stole it. The man suffered an injury to his arm, which he caught in the front door trying to stop him leaving.
Victim impact statement
As Young was jailed, the woman bravely attended court to read her victim impact statement in front of him. She said: "As a result of the crime I feel anxious all the time. I feel scared and intimidated."
"He knows where we live and he might attend and might physically harm us. At our age and condition we were unable to defend ourselves."
"This happened nearly four years ago and I still feel worried and upset about it. No one has the right to go into someone's home and still from inside. It's something we struggle to come to terms with."
"I have recurring flashbacks and nightmares he attends our house armed with a knife, not knowing what his intentions are."
"We don't know whether he targeted us or whether it was a chance encounter. However, given the interaction on the previous morning, we believe he might have found out where we live and come with the intention to steal and use the knife against us if we resisted."
She added that they have now installed CCTV to help make themselves feel safer, but she said they constantly worry about bumping into him. The woman said she cares for her husband, who has motor neurone disease, and she said she thinks he feels embarrassed he was unable to detain the burglar due to not being strong enough.
She added: "This was a terrifying experience he has put us through. I don't think he fully appreciates the effect his actions have had on both myself and (her partner). No one should have to go through what he has put us through."
Sentencing
Young, who has 93 previous convictions, was originally charged with aggravated burglary but pleaded guilty to burglary. He was jailed for three years, given a five-year restraining order and must pay £200 compensation.
Recorder Ruwena Khan said: "It seems to me you have targeted vulnerable individuals, not just by their age. It's quite obvious they, particularly (the man), is a vulnerable individual due to his physical injuries and his mobility issues."
"You have entered into the sanctity of their home without a care for their privacy and private life. I can't imagine how horrifying that must have been for a stranger to burst into their home, refusing to leave then taking something of value to them."
Helen Towers, defending, said: "The knife was not removed or used, they saw the handle. His last conviction for burglary was in 2004. He has addressed his heroin addiction and he is on methadone."
