Robbers terrorised couple at knifepoint in home

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday Charlotte Rogers had just seen a black hand pushing through the letterbox of their front door in Harehills, Leeds, when the door opened and two males, one black the other white rushed in.

The pair demanded money and drugs and the man with the knife pointed it towards her as she was holding her toddler son.

When she and her fiance Adam Jarrett explained they had no drugs, the second man, Adam Philip Rider then forced Mr Jarrett into the kitchen to search it.

When he found nothing they demanded any other valuables the couple might have, stealing a Playstation, a purse and some money before they left.

Rider, 19, of Clifton Terrace, Harehills, was sent to a young offender institution for four years after he admitted the robbery on December 23 last year.

He also admitted his part in an an earlier burglary in September when a man was disturbed in his home at night.

He also asked for 51 other offences, mainly theft from cars to be taken into consideration.

Nigel Edwards, representing Rider, said his offending stemmed from his drug addiction but since being on remand in custody he was drug free.

He had not known until he got into the house that his accomplice had a knife but now appreciated the impact of such offences on his victims.

He had toured with police officers to get a clean slate and it was considered he was suitable for a community order.

Sentencing Rider, the Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC said they were serious offences and there was no alternative to custody.

In the burglary the householder had described the distress of losing his daughter’s christening bracelet while in the robbery a family with a young child was threatened and he continued with that offence after he was aware his accomplice had a knife.