JAILED: Raider with 12 inch knife attacked man

Shahid Ali, of Wednesbury stormed into the home armed with a 12-inch knife, a court heard.

Victim Alamin Parjev, who was minding the house in Shrewsbury, suffered a cut cheek, split lip and bruising in the raid.

He had been employed by restaurateur Kabir Uddin as a domestic help and was staying at the home while Mr Uddin was in Bangladesh.

Mr Parjev had been in a bedroom resting when he heard the doorbell butwhen he opened the door nobody was there. However, as he stepped over the threshold he was pushed inside, threatened and the defendant pulled out the knife.

He punched the victim hard several times before searching bedrooms and stealing jewellery worth £5,000, cash and a mobile phone.

A description of Ali was given by the victim and his fingerprints were found on the jewellery box in the house.

The court heard that police later discovered Ali had fled to Pakistan, but on his return to the UK in February last year he was arrested.

Judge Peter Barrie jailed Ali for seven years at Shrewsbury Crown Court for the aggravated burglary at Abbey Foregate in October 2009.

Ali, of St Lukes Road, had been convicted following a trial in February.

Following the jury's verdict Ali had pleaded guilty to a robbing a woman of a gold chain in Birmingham city centre, and was jailed for a further 12 months.

Mr Uddin had told the jury the jewellery was mostly of sentimental value and had been given to his wife, Shipa Begum, as wedding presents.

The court heard that Ali had a long criminal record with over 20 convictions for robbery, drugs, possession of offensive weapons, theft and shoplifting.

Mr Danny Smith, for Ali, said he had been addicted to Class A drugs from the age of 15.