A balaclava-wearing intruder was carrying a knife and petrol with him when he targeted his own uncle’s home after midnight and smashed a window to break in.
The terrified uncle suddenly heard the sound of smashing glass and hurriedly went to investigate. The two men ended up scuffling before the nephew managed to break free and escape.
But he was confronted and detained by a quick-thinking neighbour before being unmasked and his identity revealed – to the great shock of his uncle, Hull Crown Court heard.
Dylan Mandam, 24, formerly of Endike Lane, Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted assaulting his uncle, possessing a knife and causing criminal damage on March 10. He also admitted separate offences of dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, two offences of possessing a blade and others of having no insurance and driving licence on April 2.
Connor Stuart, prosecuting, said that Mandam’s uncle was in bed at his Hull home just after midnight when he heard a window smash. He saw a man wearing a balaclava inside his home. There was a struggle between them and the intruder was swinging out at him.
The uncle put the balaclava-wearing man in a headlock to restrain him but the intruder managed to get away. “A nearby neighbour heard what was going on and detained him,” said Mr Stuart. The balaclava was taken off the intruder and the occupier recognised him as his nephew. A bottle containing petrol was found on a window sill and there was a broken serrated knife.
The uncle later said that he had been left frightened by the incident. He did not know what would have happened if he had not woken up when he heard the window smashing. “It could have ended up much more serious,” he said.
On April 2, a Citroen Picasso car was parked on a road outside a house in Hull but the keys had inadvertently been left inside. The car was later stolen and details were passed to the police.
The car, driven by Mandam, was spotted and attempts were made to stop it. The vehicle came to a stop near ongoing roadworks but it did a U-turn and there was a police chase. Mandam swerved between traffic and drove at high speeds of up to 80mph in 30mph limits.
Mandam undertook another vehicle turning into the Longhill estate but he was very quickly arrested. He had a black bag around his chest, containing a kitchen knife. There was a knife in a rucksack. Mandam had only a provisional driving licence.
Billy Torbett, mitigating, said that Mandam committed a “serious flurry” of offences and his behaviour was wholly unacceptable. Mandam had no previous convictions and he acted out of character. “It is very surprising to see him in this position,” said Mr Torbett.
“Clearly, there is still a high level of immaturity here. He wishes to apologise to the court and to his uncle, the couple who owned the car and other road users. He got on very well with his uncle.”
Mandam believed that his drinks might have been spiked on the night of the incident involving his uncle but there was, of course, no actual evidence of this. “He accepts that his uncle would have been severely frightened,” said Mr Torbett.
Mandam used to have a drugs problem. “It is something he is working hard on,” said Mr Torbett. “He has acted drastically out of character.”
Recorder Ayesha Smart said that Mandam was “swinging at” his uncle until he was restrained. A broken serrated knife was found at the scene. “You can’t even remember the offences being committed,” said Recorder Smart.
“You continued to commit offences when released on unconditional bail. You engaged in a police chase. When you were searched, two further knives were found.”
Recorder Smart said that she was originally intending to give Mandam a suspended prison sentence but she felt that she could not do so because he was not now allowed to return to the home where he had previously lived.
“The family are not supportive,” said Recorder Smart. “I can’t simply release you into the community and set you up to fail,” she said.
Mandam was jailed for one year. He was banned from driving for 18 months and he must pass an extended retest before he can drive legally again.