Stephanie Beacham “no longer feels safe” in her own home after an armed raid.
Stephanie Beacham 'no longer feels safe' in her own home after an armed raid
The ‘Coronation Street’ star was forced to hand over jewellery at her West London home last year when David Wilson, 57, raised a metal bar in a striking motion, during which she had "real fears for her life", Southwark Crown Court has heard.
Wilson has been sentenced to 10 years and five months behind bars after after he pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and a separate burglary in Sheffield on May 5, 2021.
John Traversi, acting for the prosecution, said: "During the course of this incident, which was terrifying for Ms Beacham, she had real fears for her life."
While reading the ‘Dynasty’ star’s victim statement, he continued: "She says what she had considered her very safe, cosy, cottage no longer feels safe."
According to her testimony, Stephanie - who returned to the cobbles 12 years after she first said goodbye in 2009 - has doubled her sleeping medication, suffers from nightmares and panic attacks, and does not feel comfortable walking her dog at night.
John revealed that CCTV footage from the evening of the attack shows David prying open a window to enter the Bayswater residence.
When he found Stephanie, David - who has 64 previous convictions, 34 of them being for burglary or attempted burglary - intimidated her with the metal bar before fleeing the scene with her iPhone, a purse filled with bank cards, her driving license and a pair of earrings.
Claire Mawer, the defendant's legal representative, highlighted how her client had been addicted to hard drugs since he was a teenager.
He wrote in a letter: “I understand the effect of my offending.”