Daniel Devers jailed for three years following Sherburn-in-Elmet burglary

Daniel Devers was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and criminal damage.

The 22-year-old had broken into the Sherburn-in-Elmet home of Jonathan Metcalfe – his sister Katie Devers’ boyfriend – shortly after 4am on December 10 last year while the couple, Mr Metcalfe’s parents Andrew and Sharon and 16-year-old brother Luke were sleeping.

John Walters, prosecuting, told York Crown Court that Devers believed Mr Metcalfe had assaulted his sister. He first attacked his car before shattering the French doors at the back of the house and going upstairs.

He mistakenly entered the younger brother’s bedroom who later told police that he had felt a hand on his shoulder before hearing a voice say “Sorry, wrong person”, said Mr Walters.

Devers then entered the bedroom where Mr Metcalfe and his sister lay sleeping and switched on the light, brandishing a wooden pick-axe handle.

Miss Devers told her brother to leave but he refused, saying he had come to “sort out” Mr Metcalfe.

His father Andrew Metcalfe, woken by the commotion, appeared and tried to grab the pick-axe handle from Devers, who pushed him to the floor.

The court heard that Sharon Metcalfe also tried to calm the situation and Devers finally agreed to wait downstairs where he was later arrested by police, telling officers: “I was not going to rob anyone. I just wanted to do him (Jonathan Metcalfe) in.”

Mark Partridge, representing Devers, said he had received a phone call earlier that day leading him to believe Jonathan Metcalfe had assaulted his sister, and wanted to protect her. He said Devers later regretted his actions.

Sentencing Devers, of Scott Street, Pudsey, Judge Tom Bayliss QC, at York Crown Court, told him: “Anyone who breaks into someone’s house in the middle of the night taking with him a weapon with intent on inflicting grievous bodily harm can expect to be punished most severely.”