A KNIFE-WEILDING burglar who burst into a terrified couple’s home in broad daylight with his three accomplices has been locked up for more than seven years.

Mark Calvert and the rest of the gang may have been targeting a valuable litter of new born puppies at the address in Shipley, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Calvert, 20, of West Royd Crescent, Shipley, was brought to the court from custody and sentenced while handcuffed to a security officer.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article on August 20.

Calvert had previous convictions for two house burglaries, attempted robbery, attempted burglary, aggravated vehicle taking, going equipped and handling stolen goods. He was on licence at the time and had since been recalled to custody.

Prosecutor Jessica Heggie said a couple were at home at 3.15pm when four males came in, including Calvert who was holding a Stanley knife.

He said he was ‘taking everything’ but the male householder kicked out and knocked the knife out of his hand.

An ashtray and a vase were thrown at the man by other members of the gang and there was a struggle in which his hand was cut by Calvert’s knife.

The intruders then left taking the woman’s £1,100 phone.

Miss Heggie said the property may have been targeted because of the litter of newborn puppies and the parent dogs, together worth more than £6,000, on the premises.

CCTV images of Calvert entering the address with the knife were circulated round police stations and an officer recognised him.

He was arrested, said it was nothing to do with him and made no further comment when questioned.

He pleaded not guilty at the magistrates’ court but changed his pleas at the crown court.

Miss Heggie said the woman had moved out of the property because she didn’t feel safe there anymore.

Calvert’s barrister, Abigail Langford, conceded that he had an unenviable criminal record and that the court must be considering whether he posed a serious risk to members of the public.

He was still only 20 and this was the first offence where this level of violence had been used, she said. Miss Langford said Calvert had been exposed to older criminals while in the care system.

He recognised that the woman householder would have been absolutely terrified, showing insight into his offending. He was the only one of the four burglars who had been apprehended, the court was told.

Judge Jonathan Rose said Calvert had offended again and again over a period of years.

His start in life had put him at a disadvantage and his time in care was an unhappy one. But only he could decide if he wanted to go on getting longer and longer prison sentences.

He had recently been released from custody when he committed the burglary and he was on licence. He was part of a team that selected the premises. He went there armed with a knife and the house was occupied.

The burglars brazenly entered the address and he drew the knife.

“I have no doubt at all that the occupants of this house were terrified and intimidated,” Judge Rose said.

Other members of the team threw items at the male householder and Calvert waved the knife around and injured him. It was ‘a modest or minor cut’ but swinging a knife like that could have stabbed and killed him.

Judge Rose said Calvert posed a serious risk to the public and he was now labelled a dangerous offender.

He had a terrible record and he had caused mental and emotional harm. The woman was too frightened to go back to the house to live.

Calvert was sentenced to seven years and two months in a young offender institution.