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Wednesday, July 23, 2008, 19:43
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.
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