Knifeman attacked Wolverhampton father in his home by mistake
A discarded bottle of beer has put a thug behind bars for six years after he viciously attacked a man in his own home during a bungled raid.
Brett Singh and an accomplice burst into the house in All Saints Road, All Saints looking for cash and gold.
The startled occupant was head butted, punched in the face and had a knife held to his throat on May 10, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
Then the raiders spotted a two-year-old boy and realised they were at the wrong address.
The pair raced from the house to beat up a passer by in the street outside the house before fleeing.
This victim had seen Singh in the area an hour earlier and remembered the 27-year-old was drinking from a bottle, revealed Mr Nigel Stelling, prosecuting.
Police found film of the purchase on the CCTV system of a nearby store and spotted a similar bottle lying close to the scene.
Checks revealed it carried the DNA of Singh who had previous convictions for robbery and he was arrested soon afterwards.
Mr Stelling explained: "When the two men were inside the house a downstairs living room door opened and they saw a two year old child inside. The defendant immediately said 'lets leave' and they did.
"The occupant went to look out of the front window and saw another resident of the street being set upon by the two men. They were kicking and stamping on him but left when somebody else arrived to find out what was going on.
"An empty bottle later found in the street was discovered to have the DNA of the defendant. He was arrested. The identity of the other assailant is not known."
Mr Christopher O'Gorman, defending Singh, said: "His role was noticeably less significant that that of his accomplice. He is a father himself and brought the incident to a halt as soon as he realised there was a young boy in the house."
Singh from Wynn Road, Penn pleaded guilty to assault with intent to rob and robbery and was jailed by Judge John Wait who told him: "I am satisfied that the wrong house was chosen. Seeing the child made you realise the mistake and brought home the enormity of what you were doing because you have children of your own.
"But as soon as you left the house you and your companion attacked another man. It was clear there was no real remorse for what had just happened."
