Masked gang burst into family home and threatened victims wi

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Masked gang burst into family home and threatened victims with acid

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A father and son have told how they feared for their lives when a masked gang burst into their Evington home and they were threatened with acid.

Ashok and Rajeev Gosai spoke out after Peter David Gilheaney was jailed for seven-and-a-half years for his part in the raid.

The terrifying burglary happened at the Gosai family home, one early afternoon in May last year.

Rajeev, 23, was watching television when two of the men burst into his bedroom. They threatened him with acid, hit him with a metal pole and ripped a gold ring off his finger.

"They had black scarves round the lower part of their faces and I was terrified," he said.

"One was wearing a knuckle-duster and carrying a white can. He said: 'Don't panic or I will hurt you. There is acid in here.'"

Rajeev said he was marched to his parents' bedroom, where his father, who works shifts, was still in bed.

He said: "The two men kept saying: 'Where are the drugs? Where is the money? Where is the gold? Where is the safe?

"We had no idea what they were talking about."

Ashok, 57, who works in a sorting office for Royal Mail, said he was due to wake at 2pm after a late shift.

"I was woken by a man who told me to stay in bed or he would beat me with the metal pole he was holding," he said. "I could not believe what was happening. I thought I was still asleep and having a nightmare.

"They kept yelling about drugs and money, but we could tell them nothing.

"When one of them hit my son with the pole, I feared for our lives."

The men left after ransacking the entire house during a 30-minute ordeal.

Leicester Crown Court was told how the four-man gang arrived at the Gosai home in a stolen black Mercedes, at 1.30pm on May 10.

Gilheaney (21) and an unknown group member broke into the property, while another man kept watch outside. The get-away driver stayed in the car.

Alan Murphy, prosecuting, said Gilheaney's accomplice was wearing a knuckle-duster and holding the white canister, which he said contained acid.

Rajeev was forced into his father's bedroom, where the intruders demanded gold, money and drugs, and wanted to know where the safe was kept.

When told there was no safe, Gilheaney's accomplice produced a metal pole and struck Rajeev.

The raiders searched the bedroom for 15 minutes – in which time they were joined by the look-out – before making off with £1,000 worth of jewellery and cash.

As they left, Gilheaney told Rajeev and his father: 'Stay there, don't follow us or make any sudden movements'."

CCTV cameras from a nearby premises filmed the raiders entering and leaving.

Gilheaney's DNA was found on a scarf left in the getaway car, stolen during an earlier burglary and later found burnt out.

A distinctive red top he wore during the raid matched one he was filmed wearing at a probation office appointment in Loughborough earlier the same day.

Sentencing Gilheaney, Judge Simon Hammond said: "It must have been a terrifying ordeal, especially with the son fearing acid was going to be chucked into his face.

"This was clearly carefully planned and their house targeted. It wasn't just a coincidence.

"They were hoping to get valuables and they'd taken weapons. Threats were made and violence used.

"No-one should minimise the distress suffered by that father and son, who will never forget it."

Gilheaney, of Armitage Drive, Rothley, admitted aggravated burglary.

Carl Gaskell, mitigating, told the court Gilheaney did not know there would be acid involved.

"He bitterly regrets his involvement," Mr Gaskell said.

"He had no weapon in his possession and offered no violence, although it was a joint offence.

"When he was on drugs he agreed to participate in the offence and claims he has no recollection of it.

"Although he knew there were weapons, he didn't know there was going to be acid, although it was not used."

The court heard another person was recently due to stand trial but the judge in the case rejected the identification evidence going before a jury. The prosecution then offered no evidence.