Burglar mimicked nurse's cries for help during terrifying raid on her Sunderland home

Ross Sneddon, 32, with unknown accomplices, broke into a nearby neighbour's house as an act of "revenge" following a falling out over an alleged car accident.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim, who is a nurse, had heard banging noises in her home while she was in bed on November 16 2018 and shouted for her daughter to ring the police.

Prosecutor Jane Foley told the court: "She then heard a male voice, in what can be property described as an act of arrogance and utter contempt, mimicking her cries for her daughter to contact the police."

The court heard a television was stolen during the break-in, which left the mum and daughter so afraid that they have now moved out of their home.

Miss Foley said the raid was carried out "out of spite and was borne out of revenge" after an earlier row over an alleged collision Sneddon was involved in with one of the family members, after which he claimed he was owed £3,000.

Sneddon, formerly of Pretoria Square, Sunderland, denied burglary but was found guilty by a jury after a trial last year.

In a victim statement, the nurse said: "I was extremely frightened for myself and my daughter, in case they hurt us.

"I didn't know what they were going to do or who they were.

"We rang the police and it seemed like an eternity before they arrived, every second seemed like a lifetime.

"I realised one of the people was a neighbour my son and daughter had had a problem with previously.

"This incident made me move out of our home as I was frightened to stay there, we had to leave the address."

The victim's daughter said in her statement: "I didn't know what the people wanted. I didn't know if they were stealing or wanted to hurt myself or my mother.

"I have never been so frightened. I was frightened for myself and my mother.

"This will forever effect me."

Judge Stephen Earl sentenced Sneddon to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation requirements.

The judge said: "This was against a background of a road traffic falling out with the son of the complainant."

Judge Earl said the jail term could be suspended due to the delays in the case and the time Sneddon has spent either on remand or tagged.

The judge said Sneddon has been described as a "different man" to the one he was when he committed the offence almost two years ago.

Alec Burns, defending, said Sneddon "lost everything", including his home, as a result of the conviction, which he had planned to appeal.

Mr Burns said Sneddon has long term mental health problems.

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