A 'WICKED' robber who tore gold jewellery from a terrified young mother after breaking into her home at night has been jailed for eight years.

Marcus Ibbotson and his accomplice wore balaclavas for the "determined and premeditated" crime targeting a family home in Sewell Road, Laisterdyke, Bradford, shortly before 9pm on March 13.

Ibbotson, 38, of Bromley Street, Batley, denied the robbery but was convicted by a jury at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

During the trial, the court heard that Ibbotson was one of two masked men who broke down the door and seized hold of Zara Shah who was alone with her children, aged four and 18 months.

The intruders demanded: "Hand over your jewellery, hand over your cash."

They manhandled Mrs Shah from the kitchen into the living room and then shut her upstairs in a dark bedroom while they stole £1,900 in cash, Asian gold jewellery, watches and a handbag.

They tore a gold chain from round her neck and ripped a gold earring from her ear.

The robbers tried to snatch the baby from her arms to force her to go upstairs while they seized valuables.

Neighbours were alerted by the noise and rushed to the rescue, prosecutor Anthony Moore said.

A woman saw one of the robbers crawling out of the property through the broken door.

Ibbotson was grabbed as he fled down the street but he dodged free and managed to escape.

His yellow baseball cap flew off in the struggle and was found to have his DNA on it.

A foot mark at the robbery scene matched his training shoes, the jury was told.

Ibbotson had 37 convictions for 61 previous offences, including a street mugging in 2011 when he robbed a woman of her laptop computer.

Mr Moore said Mrs Shah was terrified by her ordeal and now felt insecure in her home.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC told Ibbotson: "You came from outside Bradford to commit a wicked offence within the city."

By fighting the case at trial he had shown no contrition or remorse.

The judge praised all the brave neighbours who chased after Ibbotson.

He singled out Tanzeer Tariq for special mention, awarding him £250 from the public purse.

Mr Tariq slipped and dislocated his shoulder and broke his arm after seizing hold of Ibbotson.

"I think society needs to respect and mark and reward courage. I need to encourage others to do their duty and try to assist in the apprehension of offenders," Judge Durham Hall said.