A 31-year-old man from Dibden Purlieu has been jailed for seven years and three months for aggravated burglary.

Anthony Young, of Forest Hill Way, who had already pleaded guilty at Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday 20 August, was sentenced at the same court earlier today (Thursday 3 October).

It follows an incident in the early hours of the morning on Monday 17 June 2023, during which Young forced his way into the home of a family on North Road, Dibden Purlieu.

At the time of the incident, shortly before 4am, those inside the address were sleeping when they were awoken by Young inside their property.

He had a large knife in his possession and threatened to harm the family if they didn’t hand over money, jewellery and other valuables.

As he made his demands, he threatened the family while gesturing with the knife as he did so.

Young eventually left the property after a significant amount of time with £800 in cash, a child’s rucksack and alcohol which he had placed in the rucksack.

Officers were able to identify Young as the suspect from fingerprints on four bottles which were removed from the property and later recovered.

CCTV footage from the property was also able to be matched to clothing and shoes worn by Young during the burglary.

Young was also captured on a nearby doorbell camera, saying words to the effect of, ‘I’ve done something bad, I’m going to jail,’

He was arrested in Fawley on Sunday 25 June. A subsequent search of his home address found shoes matching those worn by the offender, as well as cash, believed to have been some of the money stolen during the burglary.

Trainee Detective Constable, Rich Burbidge, said: “I am so pleased for the family in this case at the outcome and sentence handed down to Young today.

“I believe the years that he will now spend locked away reflect the gravity of his crime that night.

“The incident itself may have only lasted for a matter of minutes, but for the victims in this case, the long-term effects of his actions will sadly last much longer.

“On that morning, he terrorised people in their own home, a place where everyone should be able to feel at their safest.

“Thankfully, justice has been served today and I truly hope this allows the family concerned to move on with their lives, safe in the knowledge that Young is behind bars, where he belongs and where he can no longer harm any other innocent people or the wider Waterside community.”