An intruder who was found hiding under a boy's bed wearing nothing but the child's pants has been jailed.
Dubbed a real-life "Bogeyman", 28-year-old Ahmad Hassan was found partially naked under the youngster's bed. The child has since been left traumatized by the ordeal and is too scared to go to his bedroom alone, while his brother was so scared he was left vomiting.
The criminal was found at the property in England when the homeowner returned from trick or treating and found it ransacked. However, the family thought the burglar had left but he was still inside.
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One of the boys was greeted by the “mortifying” sight under his bed and the authorities were alerted. When they arrived, Hassan was now in another bedroom, lying on the floor stretched out in a starfish position and still wearing the boy’s orange pants.
Hassan denied burglary with intent to steal but was found guilty after a jury took just 40 minutes to convict him at Canterbury Crown Court in Kent, England. He provided no evidence during the trial, but the court heard how he had been under the influence of drugs.
Prosecutor Alex Matthews told the sentencing hearing on Wednesday that the family returned home at about 9pm to find toys all over the floor, wet clothes in the hallway, and some of their own clothing and bedding disturbed.
She explained: “It was thought no one was in the house but, to the shock of one of the children, it transpired the defendant was hiding under the child’s bed. Obviously, the family was rather distressed. The defendant was ultimately found in another son’s bedroom and was clearly under the influence of drink or drugs.”
The court heard how it was accepted that Hassan didn't force his way into the home, as it's believed the homeowners left a door open, and nothing was actually stolen.
In a victim impact statement, the mom whose home was targeted said her sons had been affected. “I’m still shaken, feeling extremely anxious, in shock and ultimately scared," she explained. "I know the house is now safe but I’m scared to go home. My children are mortified. One will live constantly thinking someone is in the house. He didn’t want to go back to his bedroom without me. My other son threw up as a result of the fear he has been put through.”
Hassan had no prior convictions and had lived in the UK for 11 years. He was homeless at the time of the offense and had a "chaotic" life, the court heard. It is believed he changed into the boy’s pants as his own clothing was wet.
Alexa Le Moine, defending, told the court the defendant was “genuinely remorseful” for his actions. She explained: "One cannot understate the intrusion into one’s home – a safe place and refuge for this family. It is hoped this has not impacted in the long term on her and her children. This is, perhaps, a more unusual case in that he was found on the scene, made no attempt to escape, was asleep on the floor and plainly under the influence, which may be an explanation why he entered the premises and remained as he did.”
Recorder Christine Wilson who jailed Hassan, of no fixed address, for two-and-a-half years. He was also handed a 10-year restraining order. The judge said the intrusion into the family’s “safe space” and his subsequent behavior had resulted in significant psychological harm to all three victims.
She told Hassan: “In this case, you didn’t break into the property by damaging any door or window, and you didn’t take anything away. But you entered the property and ransacked a number of toys and garments, including the householder’s underwear.
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"You took off all your clothes and put on a pair of orange underpants belonging to one of the small children in the family and then you hid under a child’s bed. I cannot begin to imagine what it must have been like for that child, on returning home on Halloween from trick or treating, finding a person naked, apart from that child’s own underpants, under their bed.”
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