Aaron Peachey, 36, of Southfield Road, Princes Risborough, was found guilty of aggravated burglary of a home in Bexhill, Sussex, that took place in September.
A thug whose gang targeted an elderly couple’s home has been jailed for 11 years.
Aaron Peachey, 36, of Southfield Road, Princes Risborough, was found guilty of aggravated burglary of a home in Bexhill, Sussex, that took place in September.
The court heard that victim Raymond Sutton opened the door and was confronted by two masked men, one brandishing a large kitchen knife.
Mr Sutton was bundled to the floor and held at knife point whilst the second man entered, going straight upstairs to Rosemary Sutton who was getting ready for bed. She was grabbed by the face preventing her from screaming and told that she would be raped and killed.
Both men then demanded gold and the property was searched. During the incident Mr Sutton found a screwdriver and jabbed one of the men with it causing an injury to his arm.
Mrs Sutton then made a break for freedom but found the front door to be locked.
Finally some 15 minutes after entry both men fled the house empty handed.
Two further suspects waited outside and were later joined by the two that had gone into the property.
All four men were found by police just over an hour after the offence near to the Cooden Beach hotel nearly two miles from the scene. They were arrested and later charged.
Other gang members Delroy Masterton, 35, of Blackmill Close, Bexhill and Jordan Hurworth, 23, of Roberts Ride, Hazlemere, High Wycombe were both sentenced to 10 years each and Leon Davies, 31, of Hatters Lane, High Wycombe was also jailed for 11 years.
Summing up at court, Judge Kemp said the offence was carefully planned but ineptly executed.
He said that whilst it was impossible to identify a ring leader, Masterton was the common link with both Davies and Peachey being his cousins and Hurworth, a close family friend, bringing them from Bucks to Bexhill to commit the offence.
He stated that the four chose the property and targeted the Suttons knowing that they were jewellers and making demands for gold.
He described Mr and Mrs Sutton’s courage as commendable and said people were entitled to privacy and security in their own home which these four had breached, having armed themselves with weapons they targeted and robbed the Suttons who were elderly and defenceless within their home.
After the case Detective Inspector Mark O’Brien said: “The long prison sentences given to the four men sends a very clear and unequivocal message to anyone thinking of committing acts of a criminal nature in Sussex.
“I would like to thank the victims and members of the public whom have given evidence and supported this investigation.
“As the judge said, courage and bravery was shown by the Suttons who are entitled to privacy and security in their own home.”