A VIOLENT robber and his two young accomplices have been jailed for a total of 15 years following an attack at a woman’s home in which she had imitation guns pointed at her head and a knife held to her throat.

Robert Huddie Chapman, 21, who was described as the gang’s ringleader, was given a seven-year prison sentence.

Co-defendants Denzel Munzara, 17, and Ricardo Aurelio Calcina, 16, were jailed for four years each by Recorder Simon Bourne-Arton, sitting at Teesside Crown Court.

Chapman and Munzara forced their way into Bernie Benson’s house in Westerdale Avenue, Stockton, after knocking on the door, and were followed by Calcina.

In the attack, at about 4am on July 13 , an eight-inch carving knife was held to her throat by Chapman, who demanded money.

Sam Andrews, prosecuting, said the victim tried to push the knife away, but cut her hands.

Munzara and Calcina also threatened Mrs Benson with BB guns which they were carrying – Munzara at one stage held his gun to her head while she was on the floor crying.

She was then forced upstairs by Chapman and gave him a handbag containing £35.

Chapman, of Eltham Crescent, Thornaby, then told her to drive to a nearby cash point, but on opening the front door Mrs Benson ran out into the street, bare footed and screaming.

A neighbour heard her cries and came to her assistance, calling 999.

The three defendants ran off and were later arrested by police.

Chapman, who admitted aggravated burglary and a separate charge of possessing an imitation firearm, following a separate incident in which a BB gun was waved around outside a Sainsbury’s store in Thornaby, said he had taken a cocktail of drugs before the robbery.

His barrister Andrew Turton said the BB guns were scare tactics and claimed Mrs Benson’s house had been picked at random, rather than specifically targeted.

Andrew Teate, for Munzara, of Princess Avenue, Stockton, who pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, said: “He accepts that this was complete madness and complete stupidity.”

He said Munzara, who claimed to be in a pop group with hopes of securing a record deal, was a fully willing participant in the robbery, although it was not his idea.

Rod Hunt, for Calcina, of Bridport Close, Stockton, said he was an exemplary student at school with hopes to be a doctor, but also had a split personality.

The judge said they had used utterly realistic weapons to cause fear and had put Mrs Benson through the sort of ordeal no individual should have to go through.