Yahoo News Chilling footage captures homeowner's screams of terror as burglars smash through door with sledgehammer and axe
This is the moment a homeowner screams in terror as masked burglars smash their way into her property with a sledgehammer and an axe.
Chilling CCTV footage captured the woman's horrific ordeal as three burglars struck at her home in Bridgnorth, Shropshire just before midnight on July 1, 2018.
The burglars smash the glass doors as they threateningly shout 'give me the keys', before escaping with a £50,000 Audi.
Darius Woodstock, 19, and a 16-year-old boy - who cannot be named for legal reasons - drove to another property 40 minutes later with co-defendant Anthony Everitt, 41.
The trio then stole a second Audi at the address in Wombourne, Staffordshire, after holding a machete to the face of the homeowner while also wielding baseball bats.
Two of the men were detained in Wolverhampton within half an hour of the burglaries taking place, with a third arrest made a short time later.
The youth and Woodstock, of Bilston, West Midlands, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of theft, and one count of attempted theft.
On Wednesday, Woodstock was sentenced to seven years at a young offenders institution and the 16-year-old was given a six-year detention order.
Everitt, of Great Wyrley, West Midlands, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, theft and attempted theft. He was jailed for ten years at Shrewsbury Crown Court.
The court heard how he men struck at the house in Bridgnorth before driving in convoy to the second address as part of a plan to steal luxury cars.
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Sentencing Judge Peter Barrie said: 'You caused significant loss to the occupiers of these properties.
'There was violence, vandalism of front doors to break your way in. In both incidents the occupiers. The families were left traumatised.
'We have heard on the footage, you making threats of violence, use of threats of violence and weapons which you didn't hesitate to use.
'This is almost a full house of the greater harm category under the sentencing guidelines.'
Describing the first attack, prosecutor Phillip Beardwell said: ‘They attacked the front door smashing through the glass and kicked at it. One weapon pushed into the house.
‘The owners resisted the attackers the best they could by throwing things at them in order to try and keep them out of the house.
‘However, the burglars who were demanding car keys got the car keys and drove off in it.
‘Their disguises were such that no one was able to identify the attackers. However, CCTV shows three attackers, what they were doing and what they did.’
Following the case, West Mercia Police Detective Chief Inspector Mike Nally said: ‘These were brutal attacks on the victims homes.
‘I hope these sentences send a clear message to those who think they can commit such violent offences in our communities that we will do all we can to make sure they are apprehended and put before the courts.
‘We’re committed to protecting our communities from those who cause the most harm, and together with our partner agencies, we will do all we can to reduce the impact of burglary and vehicle thefts across the county.
‘Making it difficult for thieves is paramount and we would always urge people to be vigilant.’
