Gang of armed teenagers ‘targeted house three times’

An aggravated burglary victim said he was left with a “scarred memory” after he was held at gunpoint, trapped in a toilet and fled to a neighbour’s house.

Three teenagers have been jailed after three burglaries led to a 120mph police chase along the A303 in Wiltshire.

The trio, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty in February to the burglaries in Fisherton at Mere, near Warminster, in December 2023.

Police called it a “horrific incident” following the sentencing at Salisbury Crown Court.

“He ran in his bare feet”

In a statement read to the court, one victim said she walked into their kitchen “to be confronted by a masked man wearing a hat pointing a gun straight at me”.

They said they wanted to run out of time, so they told the masked teenager he had to use the restroom.

“He then locked me in the toilet, using a chair to block the door.

“I decided that I must escape, and as soon as I detected that he was no longer in front of the door, I managed to free the chair.”

“I then ran out of the house in my bare feet to my next-door neighbor.”

The victim called the police from the neighbor’s house.

“The memory of the gang’s intrusions will remain a scar on my memory for a very, very long time to come,” they added.

On December 11, 2023, two of the three defendants targeted a house in the village, stealing a BMW.

Then on December 23, the pair returned to the same property with an additional teenager, entered a garage, taking a number of items including a chain saw, golf clubs and a hedge trimmer.

Finally, on December 27, they broke into the house again and stole another car.

Police said there was a 15-minute chase at speeds of up to 120mph along the A303 which ended at Berwick St James.

One of the teenagers was only 14 at the time.

“long lasting impact”

PC Jack Williams, from Wiltshire Police’s youth gang violence and burglary team, said: “This was a harrowing incident. The group targeted this house not once, but three times in a short period of time.

“It is this type of situation that can have a long-lasting impact on the victim and affect their sense of security and privacy in their own home, a place where they should feel completely safe,” he added.

All three teenagers were convicted of aggravated robbery and possession of a firearm with intent.

The 16-year-old was sentenced to over three years in prison.

A 15-year-old boy was sentenced to almost three years in prison.

The 14-year-old – now 15 – was jailed for more than three years and also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possessing a bladed article in a public place and possession of cannabis.

PC Williams said: “We take burglaries incredibly seriously.

“In line with our force priority of reducing burglaries in Wiltshire, we have a dedicated burglary unit whose role is to ensure that thieves are brought to justice in the courts.”

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