Drug addict attacked man, 64, in his Boscombe home (From Bournemouth Echo)

Drug addict attacked man, 64, in his Boscombe home

2:00pm Wednesday 30th January 2013 in News By Jane Reader

A 64-YEAR-OLD man has described his terrifying ordeal when he was attacked by a drug-crazed raider in his own home.

Robert Hunt was strangled, tied up and had a knife pressed against his throat by his attacker, who told him: “I will kill you if I don’t get what I want.”

Frightened Mr Hunt was dragged around his home in Parkwood Road, Boscombe by Wayne Macpherson, who demanded cash and gold.

Bournemouth Crown Court was told Mr Hunt was left traumatised by his ordeal.

In a victim impact statement, he said: “The incident has had a profound impact on me. I can’t understand why this man used so much violence against me.

“I am an older man and I am quite frail. I offered no resistance. I was terrified and I genuinely thought he was going to kill me.

“I believed I would be dead by the end of it all. I feel completely devastated by the attack and I can’t stop thinking about it. I feel scared a lot of the time.”

Macpherson, 28, cried in the dock as details of the attack, which took place at 9.30am on October 11 last year, were outlined.

He admitted aggravated burglary and was jailed for six years with an additional four-year extended sentence.

Prosecuting, Anita Gibson-Lee said Mr Hunt was in his bedroom when Macpherson, of unknown address, approached him.

“He pushed him on to his back and knelt over him, pressing a knife into his neck. He strangled him with both hands around his neck,” she said.

“Mr Hunt tried to scream but he was choking. He took the cord from Mr Hunt’s dressing gown and put it around his wrists.

Miss Gibson-Lee said the 25-minute ordeal only came to an end when Mr Hunt fled into the garden, clambered over a fence and shouted for help in the street.

Items stolen included cash, mobile phones, laptops and a watch. Macpherson left behind a used needle which helped to identify him as the offender.

Defending, Brian Sharman said Macpherson had a troubled background and was “out of his head on drugs” at the time. He added: “He has suffered greatly at the hands of abusers.

“He is now profoundly sorry. He is not unaware of the harm he has done to himself and to others. He bears the enormous cross of the harm that was done to him.”

Sentencing, Judge Samuel Wiggs acknowledged Macpherson had “suffered at the hands of others” but added: “None of that excuses the violent and vicious conduct which you unleashed on that day on an elderly man in his own home.”

Judge Wiggs said Macpherson had been identified as a high risk to others.

After the case DC Steve May of Dorset Police said: “It was a harrowing incident and the elderly victim has been extremely traumatised. “Macpherson is a dangerous man. The sentence reflects the severity of the crime.”