“Can you imagine the terror?” - The burglars who invaded homes when people were still there

It is every homeowner’s worst fear to be targeted by a burglar. Even worse, for them to strike whilst they are still there. A home should be where people feel safe, and is something that people have worked hard to achieve.

However, when those who strike and take items, some valuable or sentimental - all of extreme importance - people are understandably left shaken and frightened for their own safety.

READ MORE: Woman, 63, carried knife 'for protection' from gangs because she was expecting trouble

Manchester’s Crown Courts often sees burglars haunting the glass docks, who have previously targeted empty businesses or homes. But, there are a select few who drop the ball, and hit homes when the owners are still there.

Here, the Manchester Evening News has looked back on the most shocking recent cases before our courts; from the man who was caught wearing a woman’s coat who he had stolen from; to the man who duped an elderly woman into believing she needed work doing in her house before stealing her cash; to the man caught on a Ring doorbell camera by a group of vigilant neighbours.

Lee Ullah

Lee Ullah broke into a woman’s home in Oldham - he was later caught by police hiding in a wheeling bin wearing the woman’s coat. At around 6am in October last year, the woman woke to find Ullah inside her house before noticing her TV was missing.

Despite challenging him about it, Ullah, 47, fled the scene - wearing her coat. He was later caught hiding in a wheelie bin still wearing the coat.

Ullah, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and criminal damage and was jailed for three years and nine months in February this year. To read the full store, click here.

Daniel O’Donnell

Devious Daniel O’Donnell