AN addict who burst into the home of an innocent Plymouth

couple demanding drug money has been jailed for six years.

Jesse James Lennox and another man brandished a knife and a

snooker cue at the terrified husband and wife as they were

watching television at their bungalow late one night.

The burglars had earlier been given an address by Northern

drug dealers, where they believed they would find drugs or

cash.

But they forced their way into the wrong house and found

nothing but a harmless domestic scene.

Lennox admitted aggravated burglary and was yesterday jailed

for six years at Plymouth Crown Court.

Judge Francis Gilbert said: “It seems you came to this house

by mistake hoping to steal drugs or money from drug dealing. I

shall assume you had the wrong address.

“This was a terrifying experience for the occupants. You

were armed with a knife and a pool cue. It left them extremely

worried and frightened, quite understandably, of remaining in

their own home.”

Lennox, 21, of Foliot Road, North Prospect, was also

re-sentenced for an offence of aggravated vehicle taking

because he was in breach of a community order for driving

someone else's car.

He threw a stolen barn owl out of the window during a police

chase. Judge Gilbert yesterday jailed him for 18 months for

that offence, to run alongside the longer prison term.

Victoria Hoyle, prosecuting, said the husband and wife were

watching television at their home in Keyes Close, Devonport, at

10.30pm on February 5 when there was a knock at the door.

She said: “Mr Innes went to open the front door and before

he realised what was happening two men entered the property.

One was masked and carrying a carving knife and he held it up

in a threatening manner towards Mr Innes.”

The court heard that the knife was 12 to 18 inches long. The

other man carried a snooker cue.

Miss Hoyle said the knifeman marched Mr Innes into the

kitchen shouting: “Where is the money? Show me the money.”

The knifeman checked behind the fittings of the kitchen as

if he were looking for something, the court heard.

Miss Hoyle said the man asked 'where's the upstairs?', but

the property was a bungalow.

The men both ran out of the house, taking two mobile phones

and a PSP games station.

Miss Hoyle said Lennox was found by DNA in traces of blood

left by the front door.

The court heard Lennox had a long history of offences for

dishonesty dating back to 2001. He has also been convicted of

arson reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Ali Rafati, for Lennox, said he was the man holding the cue

and not the knife. But the judge said it made little difference

because the burglary was a joint enterprise.

Mr Rafati said: “He was using £350 worth of drugs a day

having moved on to crack cocaine.”

The court heard Lennox had been in debt and had been told by

'Northern drug dealers' to recover drugs or drugs money from an

address.

Mr Rafati said the drug bosses wanted money which they said

had not been passed on to them from dealing.

But the court heard Lennox was determined to turn his life

around after completing his prison sentence.