Ely man bursts into a home to demand a drug debt - but went to the wrong house

Ely man is jailed for going armed to demand a drug debt - but he went to the wrong house (Image: Archant)

Steven Barnes and another man barged their way into the home of an innocent couple watching television.

The couple were at their home in Newmarket in the early hours of January 4 when they heard a tap on the back door, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Thinking it was a relative, the woman opened the kitchen door to the men, who were holding lengths of wood.

They used their body weight to force the door open and pushed her backwards into the kitchen, said Matthew Sorel-Cameron, prosecuting.

One of the men said: ”Give me the weed. Give me the weed. Where’s the money?”

She told them she didn’t have any weed and to get out of the house.

Mr Sorel-Cameron said she recognised Barnes from seeing him around Newmarket and was aware of his reputation.

“She felt fearful of them and didn’t want to rile them as she was concerned they would use the wooden poles which were raised in a threatening manner,” said Mr Sorel-Cameron.

When the man came into the room the men had left and whenshe looked out she saw three other men outside who were also armed with wooden poles.

Mr Sorel-Cameron told the court that realising they had gone to the wrong house the men apologised and tried to shake his hand. They then left and the police were contacted.

Barnes, 29, of Lynn Road, Ely, admitted attempted robbery on January 4 and being in breach of two suspended sentences. He was jailed for five years and six months.

Jo Eley for Barnes accepted it must have been very frightening for the woman who was hit in the chest by the kitchen door. She said Barnes was sorry for his behaviour.