DELAYED shock caused a Woodley man to go into a six-day coma nearly three months after he was slashed by a burglar in a terrifying night time raid on his family home.

The offender, Kevin Ahern, was today jailed for 13 years after being convicted of aggravated burglary in December 2021.

A court heard how the incident had made the victim’s life ‘hell’ after he was grabbed by the neck and suffered knife wounds to his hands and cheek by Ahern.

The incident occurred one night in September 2020 when the victim, who was sleeping downstairs, was awoken by Ahern and an accomplice after they made a noise in his garden.

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Having turned on the lights in an attempt to scare off the burglars, the victim unlocked the door allowing Ahern to wave a blade through a gap and grab him by the neck.

Ahern and his accomplice demanded money from the victim through the door but the offender was then overpowered by the man’s family and he fled the scene.

He was caught after police matched DNA from the door handle.

Jon Sank, prosecuting, read out a victim impact statement from the Woodley man.

He said: “The burglary has had a massive impact on my mental health and my life.

“I have become scared, angry, emotional and depressed.

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“All this came to a head in March 2021 when I was put into a come for six days and in hospital for ten days.

“The doctors said I went into a coma and after a delayed shock from the incident.

“He scared me so much when he was waving a knife in my face.

“I find I cry a lot and don’t want to go out of the house or do anything.

“The last year and three months have been help. These have been hard times I have had to live through.”

The man said the incident has had a huge impact on his family, including a 16-year-old boy who was present at the time of the burglary, and they all find it difficult to sleep.

Alisdair Smith, defending, pleaded with His Honour Judge Nawaz for a limited prison sentence despite conceding Ahern had a “very bad” criminal record of 35 previous convictions, which included a wounding with intent conviction for an offence where he beat a 16-year-old with a baseball bat.

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However, the judge said the location of the incident at a family home, Ahern’s previous convictions and the fact he was at large at the time of the burglary aggravated his sentence.

Commenting on the injuries the victim suffered, Judge Nawaz said: “If that is what happened outside the door, one shudders to think what could have happened if you had made your way inside the premises.”

Discussing the mental toll the incident has taken on the victim and his family, the judge added: “If there was ever a case that shone a light pyschological impact of such offending, here it is.”

Ahern was handed a 13-year prison sentence. He will serve at least two-thirds of this before being eligible for release.

He was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Friday, February 4.