Cowgate family terrified after intruder crept into teenager’s room as she slept

A family suffered a terrifying ordeal when a burglar crept into their home as they slept.

But despite helping himself to expensive coats and bank cards belonging to the Anser family, forgiving dad Monir said he was grateful to the thief for leaving behind a passport belonging to his brother Mansour, who was visiting from Libya.

Monir’s 14-year-old daughter Renad was asleep at the family’s bungalow, in Cowgate, Newcastle, when she heard someone come into her room early on Saturday October 26. At first the teenager thought it was her father, but after leaving her room she saw a stranger standing in their home.

“A stranger entered the house after 6am,” Monir explained. “I live in a bungalow and my daughter is in the first bedroom. He opened her door. She woke and thought it was me checking on her, then he left towards the living room. My daughter left her room and saw him standing in the utility room. She looked at him and then straight away went to my room. She woke me up, I jumped up and ran out.”

By the time Monir, 46, got out of his room the intruder had fled, taking with him a number of items including bank cards and two expensive coats, one belonging to Mansour, which had his passport in the pocket.

But thankfully the burglar decided to leave the essential travel document on the sofa. Meaning Mansour could board his flight to Libya on time.

“He took it out and left it it on the sofa,” said Monir. And the kind-hearted interpreter said he is thankful to the intruder for that. The incident did however, leave the family shaken, especially Renad.

“She is very shaken”, said Monir, who works as an interpreter. “We have lived in that house for 13 years and we haven’t had any issue.”

Monir called the police and officers arrested two men soon after the break-in. Now Mark Nixon and Stephen Coltman have appeared in court in connection with the police investigation.

Nixon, 36, and of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary, two counts of attempted burglary, driving whilst disqualified, driving with no insurance and failure to provide a specimen at Newcastle Crown Court. He will be sentenced next month. Stephen Coltman, 32, of South Bank, Middlesbrough admitted being carried in a motor vehicle taken without consent and failing to surrender, at Sunderland Magistrates court. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £48 victim surcharge.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said after the incident: “Shortly after 6am we received a report of a burglary at an address on Ponteland Road in the Cowgate area of Newcastle. It was reported that offenders had gained entry to the property before taking a number of items. A short time later, officers identified a vehicle of interest believed to be linked to the burglary and two other reports of burglary.

“Following a pursuit, the vehicle was stopped in the Cleveland area. Two men who were inside the vehicle were arrested by officers.” Monir said he wanted to thank the officers that attended his home, and were able to tell him that arrests had been made with a few hours.

“I immediately contacted the police and within 10 minutes the police were there including police dogs. Statements were taken from me and my daughter after forensic officers checked the crime scene,” he said. And speaking of the moment he heard arrests had been made, he added: “All good news came before 9.30am. This is to me absolutely great news. This is a stunning achievement by the police.”

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/cowgate-family-terrified-after-intruder-30259694