A man has been jailed for carrying out an aggravated burglary at a property in Southampton.

On the evening of Friday 20 September a number of windows at the Wilton Avenue address were smashed using a brick, a rock and a wine bottle.

The rock hit one resident, a woman in her 30s, causing minor injuries to her back. The man carried out a search of the house and caused damage to a number of internal doors with a knife.  

Samuel Bradley, 24, of Widley Court Drive in Portsmouth, was arrested and charged with aggravated burglary, criminal damage and possession of a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place.

Bradley appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Monday (16 December), where he was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. He will also be subject to three years’ worth of post-sentence supervision and a ten year restraining order against the victim.

Detective Inspector Jamie Johnson, of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Western Area Crime Team, said: “This was an incredibly frightening incident which left the occupants of the targeted property understandably very distressed.

“Burglary, particularly aggravated burglary, can be extremely upsetting and traumatic for victims, and I am pleased that Bradley has now been brought to justice and will serve time in prison for what he has done. I hope that this sentence brings some closure to those involved and reassures the community that we are committed to bringing those who commit burglary to justice.

“We have a right to feel safe in our homes, and we will continue working tirelessly to protect that.”