A BURGLAR who threatened a terrified teenager with a knife and a rolling pin after finding him in bed in what he thought was an empty house has been jailed for seven years.

Thomas Leegood, 19, was in bed at his home in Clarenden Road, Haverhill, at about 10.15am on January 19 when he heard someone breaking into the property and called the police, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

He heard the intruder rummaging around in his sister’s room followed by silence before he saw his bedroom door being opened, said Michael Crimp, prosecuting.

On entering the room the burglar, 29-year-old Lee Holland, was shocked to see Mr Leegood and told him he was looking for his sister.

Holland left the room and Mr Leegood heard him trying to get out of the front door.

He then heard Holland rummaging in a kitchen drawer before Holland returned to his bedroom armed with a knife and a rolling pin.

Holland had “tapped” Mr Leegood on the head with the rolling pin and told him to turn round before starting to pick up some of Mr Leegood’s belongings, said Mr Crimp. At that moment police officers knocked at the door and Holland had grabbed hold of Mr Leegood’s arm and stood behind him with the knife and threatened to kill him if he didn’t get rid of the police.

“Mr Leegood was very scared and said it was the scariest thing that had ever happened to him,” Mr Crimp said.

“He thought he was going to get his head caved in with the rolling pin and feared for his life.”

The incident ended with Mr Leegood being taken to a police car and Holland suffering a fractured ankle as he tried to escape.

Holland, of Wellington Terrace, Haverhill, admitted aggravated burglary and was jailed for seven years.

Sentencing him, Judge David Goodin said the incident must have been terrifying for Mr Leegood.

Richard Potts, for Holland, said his client had not expected anyone to be at home and had not gone to the property armed with the knife and rolling pin.

Although he had tapped Mr Leegood with the rolling pin, no serious violence was used against him.