Man breaks into Brentwood home steals £40 and drinks brandy

Colin McIvor, 47, said he had been invited to the property for a drink

A man who broke into an elderly couple's Essex home at night, poured himself a glass of brandy and stole £40 has been jailed.

Colin McIvor, 47, of Station Road in Upminster, London, entered the home in Cleve Avenue, Brentwood, in May 2023.

After he woke the vulnerable pair up at 23:30 GMT, he tried to convince them he was at the property to administer medication.

McIvor was given a four year sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday.

Fingerprint analysis

Essex Police arrived at a property shortly after they had received reports of a burglary.

One officer saw a brandy bottle and a used glass in the couple's home.

Fingerprint analysis on the glass linked the burglary to McIvor and he was arrested four days later.

He was questioned by police but claimed one of the victims had invited him in to the flat for a drink.

He was still charged and the jury found him guilty on Wednesday.

Det Con Joshua Yelland said "McIvor broke into the home of two vulnerable people, one of whom was requiring medical care.

"He tried to manipulate them into thinking he was there to give medication before he stole £40 and helped himself to a drink."