A homeless man has been sentenced to 45 months in prison after a terrifying burglary where two international students awoke to find him standing over their bed wielding a kitchen knife.
A Terrifying 3.30am Awakening
James Corcoran, 45, sneaked into a flat above a Bargain Booze store on Blurton Road, Blurton, Staffordshire, in the early hours of November 18. The court heard that three Staffordshire University exchange students from India had secured all windows and doors before going to bed on the night of November 17.
One of the female students woke at 3.30am to the horrifying sight of Corcoran standing next to her bed, holding a knife he had taken from the flat's kitchen. He pointed the blade towards her, prompting her to scream in terror.
Chaos and Escape
The scream woke her friend who was sharing the bed, and both women began shouting for their male housemate. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court was told that Corcoran asked the women why they were screaming, claiming no one would hear them.
When the male student bravely entered the room to investigate the commotion, Corcoran darted past him, ran down the stairs and fled onto the street. Prosecutor Nick Tatlow stated there were no signs of forced entry, but speculation suggested he may have reached through the letterbox to retrieve a key left in the lock.
Arrest and Sentencing
Later that morning, police were called to a nearby street where Corcoran was found sleeping rough in a porch. After he was moved on, the knife was discovered at the location. He was arrested and later identified by two of the students in a video identification procedure.
Corcoran, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to dwelling burglary with intent to steal. Mitigating, Tomas Quinn said his client had been released from prison the previous Friday and had no accommodation, walking around with a blanket against the cold. He claimed Corcoran did not expect the flat to be occupied and took the knife to "secure his release," not to threaten anyone.
However, Judge Sally Hancox stated the incident "must have been utterly terrifying" for the victims, who had no way of knowing his intentions. The two female students were unable to return to the flat, made arrangements to live elsewhere, and even considered a premature return to India.
Sentencing him to 45 months imprisonment, Judge Hancox emphasised the offence took place "in the dead of night, amplifying the fear." Corcoran will serve up to half the sentence in custody, with the remainder on licence.
