A VIOLENT burglar who forced his way into a disabled woman’s home and threatened her with a screwdriver has been jailed.


Terence Hughes, 56, has been jailed for 10 years after carrying out the terrifying raid at a house in Gateshead earlier this year.

A court heard how the thug had approached the address at around 11am on January 22 and calmly knocked on the door.

The 35-year-old suffers a disability which meant she is rarely left alone in the house but her father had left to get her medication.

She did not answer but was left terrified when she then heard Hughes breaking into her home through an insecure kitchen window.

The woman bravely confronted Hughes and told him to leave but he brandished a screwdriver and berated her for not answering the door.

A court heard how the violent thug then grabbed her by the arm and led her round the house with the weapon pushed in to her neck.

He demanded that she point out where the valuables were in the house but just minutes into the ordeal he was disturbed by the victim's father.

The concerned dad lunged at Hughes to try and apprehend him but he was able to escape and fled the property empty handed.

However, it took police just two days to trace the offender and he was later charged with aggravated burglary, burglary and attempted burglary.

At the time of his arrest, he had already been evading police who had linked him to an attempted burglary in Gateshead three weeks earlier.

Hughes, of Durham Road, Gateshead, was jailed for 10 years after admitting all the charges against him at Newcastle Crown Court.
 

Detective Constable Glenn Page, of Northumbria Police's Central Burglary Team said: "This was a terrifying experience for the victim and it was very fortunate that her father returned to her address when he did.

"Burglary is a very intrusive crime but it would have been even more terrifying for the victim in this case who was very vulnerable.

"She was unable to escape and was confronted with a stranger in her home who had armed himself with a weapon.

"Such a traumatic experience will live with her for the rest of her life but I want to take this opportunity to praise her for her bravery.

"Throughout this case she has worked with police and provided witness accounts that have ultimately put Terence Hughes behind bars.

"I also want to praise the victim's father who showed immense courage in confronting a man who he did not know and whose intentions were not clear.

"The actions of both he and his daughter have ultimately resulted in a dangerous offender being taken off our streets and put behind bars."

Speaking at the sentencing hearing, the victim’s father said his daughter may never be able to get over the trauma of the burglary.

He said: “I was shocked and shaken to the core when I opened the door to see the male holding my daughter hostage with a weapon.

“I cannot stop replaying in my head the fact that my vulnerable daughter was alone in the house with an armed man.

“I cannot stop running through in my head what could have happened. This will stay with me for a long, long time.

“This has been an absolutely terrifying experienced for her and the long term ramifications are yet to be seen.”