By Staff Reporter

Last updated 09:40, Saturday, 05 July 2008

A heroin addict who brandished a carving knife during a bungled raid on a family home has been jailed for four years.

Michael Hartigan, of Wigton: Jailed for four years after he admitted burglary at a house and possession of a bladed article

Michael Hartigan threatened a man and his wife with the weapon, asking them: “Do you wanna die?” before fleeing the scene.

But the 26-year-old was arrested by police within the hour still in possession of items taken in the burglary and a lock-knife he used to cut up drugs.

He was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday after he admitted burglary at a house in Scholars Green, Wigton, and possession of a bladed article.

Judge Paul Batty, QC, sentenced Hartigan to three years in jail for the burglary, which he described as very serious, and a further 12 months for carrying the lock-knife.

Prosecutor Charles Bland said it was about 3.15am on March 17 when Hartigan, who was hooded, broke into the property through a patio door.

He disturbed the couple living there, who had two children, and then threatened them in the garden with a knife he had picked up from their kitchen.

He escaped with items such as keys, some cash and a wallet which – he told police after his arrest at Burnfoot in Wigton – were going to be sold on to feed his drug habit.

Mr Bland said the raid had left the victims very distressed. The wife had wanted to throw away all the food that had been in the fridge that night.

Patrick Shimmin, defending, said Hartigan, of Market Place, Wigton, had taken a cocktail of drugs at the time of the offence which had left him in a very confused state.

He was now drug-free after spending more than 100 days in custody and full of remorse. His girlfriend was expecting a child.

Judge Paul Batty, QC, told Hartigan the burglary had had a profound effect on the victims who had been threatened with a carving knife.

His only mitigation was a guilty plea which reduced his sentence by one third.