Armed burglar jailed for holding up Cosham pensioner, 72, at knifepoint in dead of night

Portsmouth Crown Court heard how Jamie Bolton, 38, held up the victim - who had been recovering from heart surgery – despite her screams in the dead of night.

Bolton twice targeted the house in Medina Road, in Wymering, during the early hours of August 13 last year.

He first took a TV and laptop while the unsuspecting victim slept in her bed, returning home to his girlfriend Rachel Stockton’s home in Tankerton Close, Wymering.

Prosecutor Edward Franklin told how the pair were watched by a neighbour putting the stolen goods in a shed at around 3.30am.

They both went into Stockton’s flat where she changed clothes, put on gloves and ‘the two of them entered into the night,’ Mr Franklin said.

Together they targeted the victim’s home again, with 31-year-old Stockton staying downstairs – and Bolton armed with a carving knife.

‘Mr Bolton went upstairs and awoke (the victim) and demanded money from her at knifepoint,' said Mr Franklin.

‘He took her downstairs. By the time both of them had got downstairs (Stockton) was not present.

‘Mr Bolton continued to make demands and demanded money and left with one of the victim’s laptops.

‘Both he and (Stockton) returned to (her) flat where they were observed by the neighbour. (Stockton) appeared drunk. The neighbour saw her pull a laptop which had been concealed under her clothing.’

Police were called and found the victim ‘frail and distressed’ but able to tell officers what happened. When Bolton was arrested he was found sleeping on top of the knife.

In all, two laptops, a TV pain relief medication and £15 in cash was stolen.

In a statement read by the judge, the victim said: ‘The incident has ruined my life, it caused so much distress I’ve had to start all over again.

‘It was a horrible experience, it’s left me feeling shaken and it’s made a bad year even worse.’

Bolton, of Malins Road, in Buckland, was jailed in November for 14 years and six months after admitting burglary, aggravated burglary, having a bladed article, and another offence in Kent.

When he returned from his solo burglary he had told Stockton: ‘You don’t know anything - if anyone finds out I’ll smash them.’

But the police caught up with her too. She denied her involvement and was due to go on trial. She eventually admitted burglary and handling stolen goods.

Judge David Melville QC imposed a 12-month term suspended for two years with 20 rehabilitation activity days. He spared her prison as there was a ‘chance’ she could restore her relationship with her two young children.

He said: ‘Mr Bolton had 75 previous convictions. He was undoubtedly the main mover in this criminal operation that night.’

Stockton has seven previous convictions for 14 offences – but the latest before the burglary dates back 10 years.

James Caldwell, for Stockton, said she thought the property was empty as there were boxes around, she felt ‘sick’ about the burglary and she left ‘on hearing the muffled scream’.

Both defendants had been drinking.

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