Man jailed for more than eight years for aggravated burglary

A man who wielded a machete as he forced his way into an address in Egerton, near Malpas, and made off with cash and jewellery has been jailed.

Gavin Hope, of The Glebelands, High Ercall, Telford, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Thursday 6 February where he was sentenced to eight years and four months.

The 52-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary.

On 15 July 2024 the occupants of an address in Bickerton Road, Egerton, were woken at 2.10am by a loud bang and the house alarm sounding.

Hope was holding a large knife after gaining entry into the property and forced one of the occupants inside the address to open a safe before leaving the scene.

A total of £17,000 in cash was stolen and a jewellery box containing sentimental items.

The victims later discovered that entry had been made to the living room using a plant pot to smash the rear patio doors.

An officer who was responding to the victims’ call to police spotted an object in the road near to the address. This was a discarded item of clothing which was seized and sent for forensic examination. This then came back with a DNA match to Hope.

Following enquiries, Hope was arrested and subsequently charged with the offence.

Detective Constable Ian Halliwell said:

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home. To find an armed stranger inside your property forcing you to hand over money and sentimental items is truly terrifying.

“Hope showed no regard for the occupants of the property and the impact this would have upon them, his only goal was financial gain, no matter the consequences.

“But thanks to the hard work of our officers, including our forensics team, Hope was linked to the incident and is now behind bars for a considerable amount of time.”