A BURGLAR who left an elderly couple 'fearing for their lives' at their Winsford home has been jailed.

Thomas Price, 20, of Slaters Way, Winsford, burst into the bedroom of the vulnerable victims, brandishing a claw hammer and demanded they hand over all their money.

Price and an accomplice rifled through personal belongings while the petrified couple sat trembling upstairs in their home on St George's Road on Tuesday, December 21, last year.

The callous burglars then wrenched a gold bangle off the wrist of the woman before fleeing the property.

Price, who had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, was jailed for six years and eight months at Chester Crown Court on Monday, February 21.

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The two men had initially knocked on the front door asking if the owners wanted their gutters cleaning.

After being refused, the pair returned a short time later and forced their way inside through a back door.

During a subsequent investigation, detectives from Northwich Beat Team recovered a catalogue of evidence linking Price to the incident.

CCTV footage was found of him parking his white Citroen Berlingo on St George’s Road before carrying out the burglary.

Following the sentencing, PC Matthew Uren, who led the investigation, said: “The victims in this case were a vulnerable couple who were simply sat in their bedroom when Price and his accomplice broke in and subjected them to an absolutely terrifying ordeal.

“Not only were they threatened with a claw hammer, but they were forced to sit and watch, fearing for their lives as their bedroom was torn apart by the despicable pair.

“Thankfully, as a result of the information they provided, along with the evidence gathered by the team here at Northwich, Price has now been held accountable for his actions.

“While they will never be able to forget what happened on that day, I hope that the sentence handed to Price will provide them with some closure and allow them to move forward with their lives.”

Detectives are still carrying out enquiries to identify the second offender.