Jail for Black Country car key burglars who terrified retired couple

He was one of a four car-key burglars who targeted the two vehicles owned by the victims, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

They are thought to have got into the house in Hagley Road, Stourbridge, through a side window in the lounge that had not been secured, said Miss Sophie Murray, prosecuting.

The intruder fled from the bedroom to join the rest of the gang who drove off with the couple's Fiat 500 and an £11,500 Ford Focus which had been given to the husband as part of his retirement package.

By the time the two occupants got over the shock of the break in both of their vehicles had been taken from the driveway and the raiders had vanished, the court heard.

Miss Murray explained: "One of those involved in the crime came into the bedroom with a torch, waking the occupants. He was wearing a balaclava and had black clothing."

The gang took the ignition keys for both cars and a wallet with £15 cash and various credit cards.

Police were alerted and soon found the Fiat which had been abandoned a short distance away from the burgled house.

They were told that four people had been seen getting out of the vehicle - one of which wore a balaclava. Haytham Muflahi, aged 21, and 19-year-old Naglan Saeed were arrested nearby.

Miss Caroline Harris, defending the older man, who had four previous convictions, said the the former warehouse worker had found it impossible to get a job after being freed from his most recent sentence.

She continued: "When his benefits stopped he had no money and committed this crime for financial reasons. He does not downplay the effects of what he has done."

Miss Balvinder Bhatti, for Saeed, who was of previous good character, maintained he had mixed with the wrong crowd, been made homeless after being kicked out by his father, got into debt smoking cannabis and was told to take part in the burglary to pay off what he owed.

The male occupant of the burgled house in which he and his wife had lived for 17 years told police: "We were in total disbelief when we realised that a man had come up our stairs at 3am.

"It will take some time for my wife to recover from this. She is still having trouble sleeping. The anger inside me is immense."

His Ford Focus has not been recovered.

Muflahi from Ellison Street, West Bromwich, was jailed for three years four months while Saeed of no fixed address received two years detention. Both admitted burglary.

Judge Simon Ward commented: "The effect on the occupants has been extremely serious."