Distressed family will move after stab threat
AFAMILY with young children have been left so traumatised by a burglar who threatened to stab them that they are selling the house and moving.
Kwami Walker-Jones confronted the family when they returned home after an evening out and found him in their property.
Swansea Crown Court heard the defendant fled empty-handed. But his actions were said to have been “life-changing” for his victims.
Francis Jones, prosecuting, said the family – a mum, dad and two young children – returned to their home in Briton Ferry on the evening of August 19 after a meal.
Entering the house, the mum noticed the blinds at the patio doors were flapping and realised the doors were open. She shouted that somebody was in the house and turned the lights on.
At that moment, Walker-Jones emerged from the kitchen and told them he had a knife. The court heard they saw “a flash of silver” in his hand.
The dad ushered his partner and children out before Walker-Jones lunged at him. The father backed away and the defendant ran into the downstairs bathroom and jumped out of a window.
The barrister said the dad recognised Walker-Jones as someone he had seen in the street the previous day. He got into his car and tried to follow the intruder, but lost him.
Police were called and officers recovered a trainer from outside the bathroom window, as well as a hammer. Inside the property they found a metal meat thermometer on the floor. It is believed this was the object the defendant had in his hand when he confronted the family.
Four days later, Walker-Jones was arrested following a foot chase with officers. The mum later picked him out in an identity parade.
In his police interview he gave a false alibi and maintained his innocence until a few days before he was due to stand trial – he changed his plea after DNA from the recovered trainer was linked to him.
Walker-Jones, 30, of Tal-y-Wern, Margam, Port Talbot, had previously pleaded guilty to burglary when he appeared for sentencing.
The court heard he had 14 convictions for 26 offences including for two house burglaries.
In a victim impact statement, the mum of the family said the incident had left her traumatised. She said the property had always felt “homely and safe” and she had enjoyed living there with her family, but following the burglary they had put the house up for sale and were living with relatives.
She added: “I will never forgive him for causing me and my family so much upset.”
Judge Geraint Walters said the starting point for conviction after trial would have been four and a half years in prison. But giving WalkerJones credit for his guilty plea, his term was reduced to four years. He will serve half that time in custody before being released on licence.