Face of saw-wielding burglar battered by man after threatening his sleeping spouse
Serial criminal Gary Shackleton got more than he bargained for when he targeted a family home in Newcastle. He woke up a woman whose husband swiftly defended her
“He demanded money and was waving the saw”
A burglar who terrorised a sleeping woman who awoke to discover him looming over her with a saw received more than he anticipated when her husband fought back, leaving him requiring medical attention.
Gary Shackleton bit off more than he could chew when he targeted a family residence in Newcastle’s West End – with his wounds clearly visible in his custody photograph.
The victims were in their ground floor property on December 12 last year when Shackleton broke in. Newcastle Crown Court was told the woman was sleeping in a bedroom alongside her six-year-old son while her husband slumbered in the lounge with their other two children.
Jennifer Coxon, prosecuting, said of the woman: “She woke to find the defendant stood in front of her holding a saw, which was taken from their kitchen cupboard. She screamed and ran into the living room and the defendant followed her.
“He demanded money and was waving the saw.” The husband then struck Shackleton and they started grappling.
Shackleton emerged the worse for wear and sustained facial injuries before fleeing, pinching a bicycle from them to escape. Officers were called and discovered the burglary victim with blood on his hands.
The burglar was subsequently arrested and transported to hospital for treatment before being arrested, reports Chronicle Live. Shackleton, 39, of Fenham, Newcastle, who has 74 prior convictions, including seven previous break-ins, admitted burglary and theft.
He was sentenced to three years behind bars. Recorder Felicity Davies told him: “It seems you came off worst but you got away. Children were disturbed during the offence and you stood over a sleeping woman with a child with a saw in her bedroom.”
Defence barrister Jamie Adams said Shackleton is attempting to tackle his addiction problems and “better himself for the future” and wishes to turn his life around. He said: “He realises the harm he has been doing to all of his victims, in particularly the victims of the crime he committed that night.”
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