Shotgun-wielding homeowner chased off cocaine-frenzied burglar who terrorised string of neighbours
A cocaine-frenzied burglar who terrorised residents in a rural hamlet persisted even after being confronted by a homeowner wielding a loaded 12-bore shotgun, a court heard.
Mark Everitt, aged 41, was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court after pleading guilty to four charges, all related to the same shocking incident.
Everitt, of HMP Onley, admitted attempted robbery, two counts of attempted burglary and one count of burglary.
Suzanne Francis, prosecuting, told the court that the terrifying incidents had taken place late on the evening of September 3 last year, in the isolated community of Hampton Loade, near Bridgnorth.
The court heard that Everitt had crashed his car, and had drunk vodka and taken a significant amount of cocaine.
Ms Francis said his first victims had been at home when Everitt burst into the kitchen, took scissors from a drawer and brandished them at a shocked woman while demanding the keys to a van parked outside.
She said Everitt had told her "I am not f***ing around" as he waved the scissors.
The court heard the terrified woman had called to her husband, who threw what was described as a "display fork" in Everitt's direction, causing him to flee.
As he ran, the scissors caught on the patio door and were left behind.
The court was played part of a panicked and distressing 999 call in which the woman could be heard pleading for police help.
The woman's husband called a neighbour to alert him to the incident, and the possibility that Everitt may strike at his property because he also owned a van.
Meanwhile Everitt went on to start searching another neighbouring property, where he took a shovel and a BB gun.
Then at around 11.44pm the defendant proceeded to try and break into the home by using a brick to smash a window.
Ms Francis said the startled homeowner was in fear for his family and went to his own gun cabinet, where he retrieved a 12-bore shotgun and loaded it with two cartridges.
The man confronted Everitt at the front door, who was shouting "give me the 'f***ing keys to the van".
The court heard the man warned Everitt he was armed with a loaded shotgun, with the attacker then running off.
Everitt then tried unsuccessfully to gain access to another neighbouring property before a further homeowner was woken by sounds of banging.
'Completely unfazed'
When he went to his front door he could see the defendant using the shovel to try and prise the door open.
In fear of what could happen the man retrieved a baseball bat from his son's room to confront Everitt.
Ms Francis explained that the man could see the attacker striking his door and beckoning to him with his hand.
She said the victim described Everitt as "completely unfazed" when confronted with the baseball bat.
Ms Francis said that a number of police units - including firearms officers and a dog squad - were sent to the scene.
They discovered Everitt injured on a bank, having tried to run away.
The court heard that a pin in his leg from a previous operation had ended up sticking out of his thigh, requiring him to be taken to hospital for medical treatment.
When interviewed by officers several days later he told police: "I have no recollection of the events of September 3. I had taken a lot of cocaine and drunk vodka."
Ms Francis said that when played CCTV of himself during the incident Everitt responded only by saying "Jesus".
When played the 999 call, which lasted nearly 20 minutes, he was said to have heard just five seconds before asking officers to stop.
'I am so sorry'
The court heard victim impact statements which described the serious and long-term impact of the offences on the couple whose home Everitt had invaded.
The man told how he had never been afraid of the dark but the incident had turned him into a "grown man, a father, fearful of the dark".
Everitt's barrister, Dylan Wagg, read a letter to the court from the defendant intended for his victims.
It said: "I do not know where to start. I just want you all to know how sorry I am for any trauma I may have caused to you. I am so sorry."
It added: "I need you all to know I regret it dearly and I have done nothing but reflect on my actions and how it has made you feel.
"I hope you can find a way to forgive me, I am so so sorry."
Mr Wagg added that Everitt had pleaded guilty to the offences at the first opportunity, and that they were committed after he had taken "a lot of cocaine".
He said: "It does not excuse his behaviour but it does provide an explanation. Had he not taken it, he might not be here today."
Sentencing, Judge Trevor Meegan said it had been a "concerted, determined effort to steal from four neighbouring houses in a remote, rural location".
He described Everitt's actions as a "frenzied, erratic drug-fuelled spate of offending".
He said: "You showed scant regard to the welfare of the householders, and showed a willingness to use whatever implements came to hand."
Judge Meegan said that Everitt had persisted even after being chased off with a gun, saying: "Did it end there? No, in short it did not, because even the sight of a shotgun did not stop you."
The court heard that Everitt has 23 convictions for 53 offences, dating back to 2000.
They included inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, non-dwelling burglary, possession of a firearm with intent, and robbery.
Judge Meegan sentenced Everitt to seven years and six months in prison, but added an extended licence period having deemed him a dangerous offender.
It means he will serve two thirds of the custodial portion of the sentence (59 months) before being eligible for parole.
He will then serve the rest of the sentence on licence, with an extended licence period of three years.
After the sentence was handed down Everitt addressed the judge to ask if he could speak to the victims present in court to apologise, adding: "I never wanted anyone to feel the way you must feel."