JAILED: Former elite athlete subjected pregnant mother to terrifying burglary

A former elite athlete who subjected a pregnant mother to a terrifying daytime burglary in her Dudley home has been jailed for four years.

Dwayne Blackstock was penniless and living in his car when he launched a series of desperate raids on January 12, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The 26-year-old tried to break into four homes in Cardoness Place, Dudley, without success before finally gaining entry to a young woman's house at around 12.30pm.

The court was told the victim - who was three months pregnant and was with her five-month old baby daughter at the time - was awoken in her bedroom by a masked Blackstock who demanded cash and jewellery.

Miss Joanne Barker, prosecuting, said Blackstock ordered the woman to raise her top and took a photograph of her during the 10-minute ordeal, before making off with a Blackberry phone and a bag.

Judge Amjad Nawaz told the court: "She believed you were going to rape her. She was humiliated and resorted to begging you not to harm her or her children.

"She suffered medically during her pregnancy and now no longer feels safe in her own home."

Blackstock was said to have worn socks on his hands so as not to leave fingerprints while he attempted to open the doors of homes on Cardoness Place.

The court heard that Blackstock had been a highly regarded national-standard sprinter as a teenager, before his life began to spiral out of control following a conviction for rape in 2004 for which he served five and a half years in prison.

Mr Richard Franck, mitigating, said the defendant also had previous convictions for fraud and robbery which meant he had struggled to get a job.

On the day of the burglary he had needed money to get to a social services assessment in Acocks Green, said Mr Franck.

Blackstock and his partner were attempting to prove that they were fit parents for their young child, Mr Franck added.

"He had no money and no abode," he said. "He was absolutely desperate. He knew that if he didn't attend Acocks Green he would lose his child.

"This was a man effectively walking on a rope trying to open doors. Unfortunately for this poor young lady he found her door open."

Mr Franck added that Blackstock had asked his victim to lift up her top to see if she was wearing a gold chain. He said: "There was no sexual intention whatsoever."

Blackstock, of Bearwood Road, Bearwood, admitted four counts of attempted burglary and one count of burglary.

Sentencing Blackstock to a total of four years in jail, Judge Nawaz said: "Long after you have been released from this sentence the effect of what you did to this young woman will continue to echo through her life."