Burglary gang 'targeted cannabis factory to get drugs'
A gang of burglars raided the home of a suspected cannabis grower in Cannock, throwing a brick through the window, in the hope of getting drugs, a court heard.
Windows of the flat, in Surrey Close, were smashed and the intended victim narrowly dodged the brick which came crashing in to his bedroom.
When the occupant, who cannot be named, put his head through the broken glass to see who had done it, he was hit on the head with a prop and a wheelie bin was thrown at him. He was later taken to hospital having suffered a heart attack.
Two of the raiders ran off before police arrived and have not yet been caught. But officers arrested the third member of the gang, Russell Astbury, crawling out from under a hedge in Oxford Road, said Miss Denise Fitzpatrick, prosecuting.
Astbury, aged 31, of Benion Road, Cannock, who admitted charges of attempted burglary and going equipped for theft, was jailed for 28 months.
"The occupier was at home, violence was used against him. you were part of the team, so you must take some responsibility."
Mr Neil Gerrity, defending, said police had seized some cannabis plants from the victim's address. "All my client says is, he was recruited that night to go to the address with a view of taking some cannabis from that address."
The father of three had played a "subordinate role" in what was going on - the ringleaders had made off well before the police arrived, said Mr Gerrity.
Miss Fitzpatrick said the attempted break-in happened around 11.30pm on 25 April last year. The occupant saw shadows outside his smashed living room window. Attempts were being made to pull broken glass from the smashed bedroom window.
"A brick was then thrown through the smashed bedroom window, the occupant dived on the bed and the brick missed him."
When he looked out through the broken glass, he felt a blow to his head - he had been hit with a prop, but was unable to see who had done it.
About 20 minutes later police were attending another incident when they caught Astbury crawling out from under a hedgerow. He told officers they had been after a cannabis grower.
The terrified occupant, meanwhile, was in such a state he was taken to hospital and transferred to the cardiac unit.
"A few days later it was found he had suffered a heart attack," said Miss Fitzpatrick.
