A County Durham pensioner was hospitalised after a knife-wielding intruder raided his home in the middle of the night and made off with his car.
Elijah Hind, 24, and Tammy Hedley, 34, entered the victim’s home uninvited before making off with his wallet, bank cards and his Ford Mondeo. Hind was in possession of a carving knife during the terrifying incident and hit the victim over the head with a hard object, resulting in the man sustaining a laceration.
On Wednesday, Hind, of Sixth Street, Horden, Peterlee, and Hedley, of Eleventh Street, Horden, Peterlee, appeared at Durham Crown Court via video links from prison. Hind was sentenced for aggravated burglary and Hedley was sentenced for handling stolen goods and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent. They had pleaded guilty to the offences.
The court heard that Hedley had known the victim before the offences were committed, and would often sell him goods outside a local pub. She would also turn up to his home to sell him items.
Ellen Wright, prosecuting, told the court that on September 21 last year, Hedley turned up at the 68-year-old’s home, along with another woman and Hind. The victim was asked to take the group to Durham, but he only gave the women a lift as he felt “uncomfortable” about Hind, who he did not know. Hind was also intoxicated, the court heard.
Ms Wright said: “Hours later, after midnight on September 22, [the victim] was in bed. Hedley and Hind then attended his home and Hedley told him she had cleaning products for sale. The defendants then barged into the property without permission. [The victim] told them he didn’t want to buy anything.”
As the pair burst into the home, Hind “became angry” and produced a meat-carving knife which had a blade around nine-inches long. Ms Wright continued: “Hind said ‘I want some money’ and grabbed [the victim’s] trousers from the floor and shook them. His phone and wallet fell out. Hind took those items and pushed [the victim] with the knife still in his hand.”
The court heard Hind was “prodding” the victim with the blade before taking the man’s car keys from the kitchen bench, telling him, ‘I’m taking your car’. It was then that Hind hit the man over the head with a “hard object”, which the court heard was either a walking stick or a metal pole. It caused a laceration to the man’s head and he woke up later on the floor and spent two days in hospital.
Hind and Hedley then fled the man’s home in his car but they were identified later by CCTV and arrested. The court was told Hind had eight previous convictions for 11 offences, whereas Hedley had 26 previous convictions for 56 offences – many involving shoplifting.
Calum McNicholas, defending Hedley – who appeared at the court via link from HMP Low Newton – said she did not “inflict any violence or carry any weapon” during the offence. The court heard that Hedley was trying to prevent Hind from attacking the victim and the pair were seen arguing about what was happening by a witness.
Paul Rooney, defending Hind – who appeared at the court via link from HMP Durham – said: “He was addicted to alcohol and class A drugs at the time and has very little memory of the offending. He wishes to apologise to the victim. He is trying to keep drug free in prison and wants to make something of his life.”
Sentencing the pair, Recorder Mark Giuliani handed Hind a prison sentence of seven-and-a-half years. Hedley was given four weeks prison. Both were made subject of 15 year restraining orders.
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