Burglar threatened to take children hostage in home raid

Daniel Allan had already made 50 unanswered telephone calls to his former partner before he turned up drunk at her door at around 7.30am on January 15.Newcastle Crown Court heard the 32-year-old hurled insults at the frightened mum, threatened to put out her windows and warned he would "burn the family out of the property" during the one call she did answer.When the worried mum was on the phone to the police for help, Allan smashed a bathroom window at the back of the property, in Sunderland, climbed insideand took her telephone from her.Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw told the court: "He took a child into his arms and threatened to take the children hostage."The court heard Allan left the house, with his victim's telephone, without anyone being physically hurt and was arrested in a nearby lane, where he was trying to hide.Allan, of Ridley Terrace, Hendon, who has convictions for 110 previous offences, pleaded guilty to burglary.Judge Penny Moreland jailed him for 12 months.The judge said: "You went to the rear of the house, broke a bathroom window and you climbed in."She had already contacted the police out of fear as to what you might do."In order to prevent her getting help, you took her phone from her."You threatened you would take the children hostage."The judge said the confrontation was "unpleasant and frightening" and added: "There must have been great fear occasioned to her and the two children whosaw you drunk and ranting in the house."Andrew Walker, defending, said Allan, who had been drinking, believes he may have been spiked and cannot explain why he behaved like he did.Mr Walker added; "He was distraught due to the break up of the relationship."There was no intention on his part to physically harm anyone."Mr Walker said the Allan took the phone as an "afterthought" and did not go to the house with an intention to steal anything.