Burglary 'leader' jailed for eight years
A burglar who orchestrated a terrifying armed attack at the home of a love rival has been locked up for eight years.
A burglar who orchestrated a terrifying armed attack at the home of a love rival has been locked up for eight years.
Darren Harding was the "leading light" in the early morning attack, which left his now 18-year-old victim with a leg injury and his mother severely shaken, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
Harding's brother Luke was jailed for six years for his part in the attack, while friend Anthony Hadley will spend five-and-a-half years behind bars.
The court heard how the trio, along with another man, donned hoods and headed to the home of Joshua Banks, after hearing he was now in a relationship with Darren Harding's ex-girlfriend.
Darren Harding, aged 20, was armed with an imitation handgun, while Hadley, 20, wielded a hammer and Luke Harding, 22, a baseball bat.
They recruited a girl, who was not named in court and sent her to knock on the door at 4.30am on April 8 to gain access.
"On the way, Darren Harding armed the others," said Mr Andrew Wilkins, prosecuting.
"Joshua Banks suffered a wound on the head when he was hit with the handgun. He was also injured in his leg, which went on to develop unusual complications."
His mother, Amanda, was woken by the disturbance and when she approached, was manhandled out of the way.
On leaving, Darren Harding smashed the windows of her car, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage. Harding pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, as well as wounding with intent, criminal damage and possession of an imitation firearm.
He was also sentenced for aggravated vehicle taking in an earlier incident, after he was the front seat passenger in a stolen car, which was chased by police for more than 45 minutes.
He had been found guilty at trial and the attempted burglary was committed while he was on bail.
Luke Harding and Hadley both pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary.
Miss Samantha Forsyth, defending Luke Harding, said her client had been led "stupidly by loyalty to his younger brother." Miss Jennifer Josephs, defending Hadley, said: "He did not expect matters to get as serious as they in fact did. He did not use violence for his part but he did not leave."
Judge Nicholas Webb told the trio, all of Gibbs Road Hostel, in Lye: "All of you went armed. Darren Harding had an imitation handgun but it looked very real and was thought to be real.
"This aggravated burglary was planned simply because Joshua Banks was seeing your ex-girlfriend Darren Harding.
"You were the person responsible for recruiting others. You were very much the leading light in this."
"It's difficult to see how two people can have been much more seriously affected emotionally by what has happened," he said.
