A BURGLAR who terrified a York couple while their five-year-old son slept in the same house has been jailed for more than three years.

Richard Stewart Hurst and an accomplice woke the couple after breaking into their home in Pottery Lane in the early hours of November 24.

The father went downstairs and saw Hurst and another burglar, who has never been identified. He went back upstairs and told his partner to phone the police, but Hurst followed him.

When the burglar saw the woman was on the phone, he threatened the couple and put his hand behind his back, as if reaching for a weapon, York Crown Court heard. 

Heather Gilmore, prosecuting, said Hurst, 35, appeared drunk and demanded money or drugs from the couple, and the male victim offered to take him downstairs in order to get Hurst away from their sleeping child’s bedroom.

As they got downstairs, Hurst punched the man in the jaw, then stole the keys to his moped and two crash helmets, before leaving with the other man on the scooter.

A police officer arrived as the pair fled, but failed to box them in using his vehicle. However, they did not get much further before crashing the moped, and the second man ran away, leaving Hurst to be restrained and arrested at the scene.

At the police station, Hurst became aggressive and verbally abusive, headbutting a plastic barrier above the custody desk, and as he was being moved to a cell, he turned and spat into the face of an officer.

He was charged with burglary, theft, assault by beating, assault on an emergency worker, driving without insurance and failing to provide a specimen, and admitted all charges at York Crown Court.

A statement from the male victim, read in court, told how he had been “left constantly feeling anxious and angry” following the invasion to his home.

It read: “He was feet away from our five-year-old boy. How could I protect him, I had nothing. It’s had a massive effect on me on a day to day basis.

“The whole night left me scared and constantly on edge for the safety of my family.”

Neil Cutte, in mitigation, told the court Hurst - who was breaching a digitally-monitored curfew at the time of the burglary - was unaware the victims would be present during the burglary, and “wishes to apologise to them” for making them fear for their family’s safety.

He said: “He is ashamed of what he’s done. It was never his intention, he tells me, he would never have hurt a small child, but obviously, they did not know that.”

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC told Hurst: “Your activity has effectively destroyed their home, their security and left them fearful and anxious.”

Hurst, formerly of Bridlington, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for burglary and three months for spitting at the police officer. He was also banned from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 44 months.