Burglar jailed after stabbing pensioner multiple times before being caught by police covered in his blood

A burglar has been jailed after stabbing a pensioner multiple times before being caught by police in the man’s home covered in his blood.

Andrew Bowering, 26, broke into the terrace house in Croft Street, Willenhall, in the early hours of 27 December last year.

He carried a TV into the garden and returned to the home where he began to rummage through a drawer.

The 82-year-old was woken up and confronted Bowering, who stabbed him three times in the legs and once in the head.

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Neighbours alerted police who heard shouts and Bowering saying: “Where are your car keys. Do you want me to stab you?”

Officers arrived within minutes and found the 26-year-old stripped from the waist down and wearing a bloodied T-shirt.

Bowering undressed and tried to claim he was the victim’s grandson, the police said.

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Police said Bowering - who was on a prison release licence having been jailed for a shop raid − later admitted wounding and aggravated burglary.

He was jailed for nine years at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 27 May.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Mandy Dorrington, said: “This was a brutal, totally unwarranted attack on an elderly man. He posed no threat to Bowering yet he lashed out several times with a knife and also left the man with a broken nose.

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“Thankfully the victim has gone on to make a good recovery but we could easily have been looking at very serious, possibly fatal stab injuries.

“Our officers quickly saw through Bowering’s claim to be the man’s relative and he was arrested just a few minutes after the attack.

“I wish the victim well for the future and hope the jail sentence handed to Bowering will offer him some comfort."

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