A MAN who threatened two pensioners with knives and demanded gold and money from them has been jailed.

James Devlin, aged 19, of Kingsmill Drive, Northolt, Ealing, admitted the offence in a hearing at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday (January 13).

Returning to the same court for sentencing on Friday (January 15), Devlin was sentenced to a total of eight years and two months’ imprisonment.

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Police said at just before 9pm on November 17, 2019, two masked men forced their way into the home of the victims in Bradley Road, Slough.

The force added: "The victims, an 80-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman, were asleep at the time and were woken and threatened with knives before a demand was made for gold and money.

"Devlin and his accomplice conducted a messy search of the property before fleeing empty handed."

Slough Observer: James Devlin. Picture: Thames Valley Police

Police said Devlin was identified with the use of forensic evidence and was arrested on November 23, 2020, and charged with one count of aggravated burglary on November 25.

Patrick Cassidy, aged 25, of Stanborough Avenue, Borehamwood, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment on August 21 last year in connection with the same incident.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Ben Walker-Hall of the Priority Crime Team based at Slough police station, said: “I am satisfied with the sentence handed out to Devlin, which will give him time to think about his frankly cowardly and atrocious criminal behaviour.

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“Thames Valley Police knows the impact that someone breaking into your home can have, and this case shows that we will investigate thoroughly to bring cases before the courts for justice to be served.”