A bottle-wielding burglar who threatened a man recovering from cancer treatment inside his own Carlisle home, moments after coming face-to-face with a petrified neighbour, has been jailed.
Michael Sirey Parker, 36, entered two flats on Nelson Street during the day on July 26, confronting the occupants of both while talking nonsense, the city’s crown court heard today.
In the first, he came face-to-face with a woman inside her ground flood property and grabbed her right arm, gripping it hard as she asked him to leave.
Parker then went upstairs and entered the flat of a man recovering from cancer treatment. He saw Parker was holding a bottle of wine which he then brandished like a cosh.
“The worst thing was having him inside my home, armed with a glass bottle,” the man later said. “He violated my space. He was willing to assault me.”
The woman had stated: “I’m petrified he will come back. I don’t feel safe in my own home.”
Weeks earlier, Parker had been released by police after an earlier incident when he tried to enter a ground floor fiat at Higginson Mill while the female householder was inside.
As she went to investigate, Parker picked up a plank of wood and threatened to stab her while hinting that he had a knife.
Parker left the area after a further confrontation with a dog walker who tried to intervene, but was seen by the female a short time later as she travelled past him in a car. “She took a photograph of him and called the police,” prosecutor Rachael Woods told the court.
Parker admitted affray, two counts of burglary with intent to steal, attempted burglary, two offences of assault by beating and vehicle interference having tried the handle of a parked car.
Defence solicitor Andrew Gurney told the court Parker, of Stonegarth, Carlisle, felt shame and remorse, and wished to apologise to his victims for crimes committed while he was desperate for money.
Judge Michael Fanning imposed an immediate 27-month jail term.
“People have to be safe in their own homes. People who burgle need to know they will go to prison with immediate effect,” said Judge Fanning.
