Sheffield Crown Court: Police release picture of knife-wielding burglar who attacked a victim in his own home

Sheffield Crown Court heard on August 23 how armed burglar Steven Watson, aged 41, and fellow burglar Brad Wollerton, 42, had disguised themselves as police officers before they forced their way into a home.

Michael Greenhalgh, prosecuting, told a previous hearing both defendants had been wearing hats with the word “police” on them but as soon as the occupant recognised them as men who had been pursuing a debt from his stepson they pushed their way inside the property.

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Watson revealed he had a knife in his waistband, according to Mr Greenhalgh, and as the occupant was punched and kicked he saw Watson holding the blade in his right hand and he threatened the man’s 15-year-old stepdaughter who fled back upstairs.

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Judge Jeremy Richardson QC told the defendants: “On December 31, 2021, you both participated in an extremely frightening ordeal for the householder and his 15-year-old stepdaughter.”

He added: “You went to the house of the complainant in the case because you were acting with a view to recovering a debt owed to another person. It was an alcohol-fuelled endeavour.”

Mr Greenhalgh previously explained Wollerton grabbed a television and Watson took the complainant’s wedding ring, and when his daughter offered the burglars her iPad one of them apologised as they left the property in Carlton Road, Barnsley.

Police traced the defendants to a nearby house after they had been seen by witnesses, according to Mr Greenhalgh, and the television and the ring were recovered.

Watson, of Castleford Road, Normanton, near Leeds, who has 23 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and Wollerton, of Eldon Street North, Barnsley, who has three convictions for five offences, pleaded guilty to just burglary on the basis that he had not known Watson had a knife.

The court heard Watson’s previous convictions include a record of serious violence with assaults, public order offences and robbery, and Wollerton’s previous convictions include an attempted robbery and drug offences.

Defence barrister Amy Earnshaw said Watson and Wollerton had been asked to recover a debt and it had not been Watson’s intention to commit a burglary.

Mr Earnshaw added that remorseful Watson had been under the influence of alcohol and as soon as the occupant’s step-daughter appeared he realised things had got out of hand.

She also said that following the loss of work and the breakdown of a relationship Watson began to take illegal substances and fell into a cycle of drink and drugs.

Richard Davies, defending, said Wollerton deeply regrets his involvement and he had not known that Watson was going to use a weapon.

Mr Davies added: “He is something of a sorry individual. He has not worked for some years. He has medical problems. He suffers with epilepsy.”

Judge Richardson sentenced Watson to a custodial term of eight years and three months extended by three years and nine months making a total of 12 years after he was deemed to be dangerous.

He also sentenced Wollerton to two years and eight months of custody but after a review on August 25 his sentence was reduced to two years and four months.