A couple from Bury have been left “sick with dread” after waking up to find an intruder had burgled their home as they slept.

George Minas broke into a property on Rochdale Old Road in the early hours of July 7, where he spent 50 minutes removing items from the house and transporting them into the couple’s Nissan Micra, which he also stole along with two debit cards and food from their fridge.

Minas, 46, of Radcliffe Road, Bury, was later arrested after attempting to use one of the debit cards to make a £26 purchase from a nearby shop.

Following a search of his home, police officers also found a quality of cannabis “inconsistent with personal use".

Ahead of being sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on Monday, Minas pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply, theft of a motor vehicle, burglary and fraud.

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Carmel Wilde, prosecuting, told the court that the occupiers of the property had woken to find Minas in their bedroom, “looking through their drawers” before being chased from the house.

She said images from the couple’s doorbell camera showed Minas making “multiple trips” between the house and the Nissan Micra “with his spoils".

While driving away, Minas crashed the car into an Audi.

Ms Wilde read out victim personal statements written by the occupants to the court.

One of which said: “To say I’m now terrified to be in my own home is an understatement. The thought of an intruder being in my home makes me sick with dread."

The other added: “I feel scared to go to bed, we don’t feel safe anymore.”

The court heard that Minas has 42 previous convictions, including for burglary and drugs offences.

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Helena Williams, defending, said Minas, is “disgusted” with himself over the incident and that his best piece of mitigation was his guilty plea.

She added: “He is ashamed of himself for doing something so unpleasant.”

Concluding the hearing, Judge Tom Gilbart called the incident “brazen” and noted that the occupants relive the event “as a nightmare” and have plans to move away from the area. 

He sentenced Minas to three years and eight months and added: “You took time to find the appropriate property to burgle.

“This was quite deliberate and methodical criminality.”