Man threatened to rape kids in car theft attempt
Northumbria PoliceA prolific criminal threatened to kidnap and rape several children who were sitting in a car he was attempting to steal, a court has heard.
Michael Swinhoe, 42, had a rock in his hand when he approached as the family were getting ready to go to school near Sunderland in December, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
The homeowner and a neighbour wrestled Swinhoe to the ground and held him until police arrived.
He was jailed for three years and nine months after admitting attempted robbery and possession of a weapon in a public place, with a judge saying she believed he was "dangerous".
The children had just climbed into the car outside their home in Whitburn, South Tyneside, on the morning of 18 December last year, prosecutor Cainan Lonsdale said.
As their father was locking the house, Swinhoe approached and angrily shouted at the man to "get back" from the car and hand over the keys, the court heard.
Swinhoe, of no fixed abode but previously from Washington, then shouted he needed money and the car was worth "£100,000", adding he would take it and the children, Mr Lonsdale said.
'High harm risk'
The court heard he thrust the rock towards the man in a threatening manner and yanked open the car door, shouting: "I'll take the kids and rape them."
The man charged at Swinhoe, pushing him to the ground and with the help of a neighbour, restrained him until police arrived.
In a statement read to the court, the victim said his children had been severely impacted by the ordeal and were now afraid to leave their house, with the car having a "stigma" attached to it.
The court heard Swinhoe had 28 convictions for 46 offences, including for robbery in 2009 when he and an associate pushed a man to the ground and stole his bag for which he was jailed for a year.
In mitigation, the court was told Swinhoe had a long history of drug addiction and he wished to "apologise profusely" to his victims.
Judge Amanda Rippon said he had been assessed as posing a "high risk of offending and causing serious harm".
She wanted to subject him to an extended licence period for people deemed to be dangerous, but was unable to do so, as he did not meet the legal requirements.
"I cant find you dangerous which is unfortunate as I think you are," Judge Rippon said.