Axe-wielding burglars were after victim's bet winnings
| Published date | 16 January 2022 |
| Publication title | Sunday Sun |
They initially forced entry to the wrong flat in the middle of the night, leaving a couple petrified.
CCTV then captured them making a determined effort to kick and smash their way into their target's home for more than a minute before eventually getting in.
The victim was confronted by the armed masked men demanding he had over his winnings and he was struck on the head with an axe during the raid.
Now Evans and Percival, from Longbenton, North Tyneside, who failed in their mission, have each been jailed for six years for aggravated burglary at Newcastle Crown Court.
The victim won the money two days before the raid in September last year and had only told a few people. Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw told the court: "Word got around and this was the motivation for the offence."
Evans and Percival initially struck at the wrong flat on Great Lime Road in Palmersville, North Tyneside.
A couple were woken in the early hours by their door being kicked open and were confronted in their bedroom by a masked raider holding an axe.
On realising their mistake, they left without saying anything.
One of the victims called police and watched as they went to their intended target's home.
They repeatedly kicked and hit the door with axes and a knife and eventually smashed their way in.
The pensioner's friend, who had been asleep in the living room, tried to keep the door shut but was showered in glass and ended up fleeing out the back door.
Meanwhile, the pensioner had barricaded himself into his bedroom using a chest of drawers against the door but the raiders smashed the door off its hinges and got in.
Mr Wardlaw said: "Both defendants, who were masked, repeatedly demanded to know where the money was."
When the victim said there was no money, he was struck on the head with the axe by Pervical but not with much force and he believed it was done accidentally while trying to scare him. It caused a small cut on the top of his head.
Mr Wardlaw said: "The complainant ended up on the floor. He took hold of an axe and was struggling with Percival, trying to defend himself.
"Evans struck him from...
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