Man jailed for six years after carrying out two aggravated burglaries armed with a baseball bat and firearm

A man has been jailed after burgling two properties armed with a baseball bat and a firearm in Winchester and Ryde.

Charles Toby Simmonds, 22, of Swaythling Road in Southampton, appeared at Winchester Crown Court today (30 January) after previously pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated burglary.

sentenced to six years and half years.

In the early hours of Sunday 8 September, Simmonds attended an address on Simeon Street, Ryde, wearing a balaclava and armed with a baseball bat.

The victims saw Simmonds and two others on their Ring doorbell camera. Simmonds then used the bat to smash the door and enter the property.

One of the victims armed themselves with a hammer and chased Simmonds and the others from the property, but was hit by a projectile fired from a BB gun.

The court also heard how at around 7pm on Sunday 15 September, a 19-year-old man met Simmonds on Wavell Way, Winchester, to sell him a vape.

The victim got into a car with Simmonds and two others, where he was threatened with what he believed to be a handgun and told they were taking him to his house to take everything.

The victim was then driven to his address on Cobbett Close where he was shot him in the chest with a BB gun causing minor injury.

During the burglary, the victim and another resident of the property was hit with a hammer by Simmonds.

Through CCTV, officers were able to track down the vehicle used and Simmonds was arrested at his home address. Two BB guns, a silencer, a hammer, and a notebook containing plans for the Simeon Street burglary were seized.

Police Staff Investigator, Michael Longmore, who was the officer in the case, said: “This was an incredibly frightening incident which left the occupants of the targeted property understandably very distressed.

“Burglary, particularly aggravated burglary, can be extremely upsetting and traumatic for victims, and I am pleased that Simmonds has now been brought to justice and will serve time in prison for what he has done. I hope that this sentence brings some closure to those involved and reassures the community that we are committed to bringing those who commit burglary to justice.

“We have a right to feel safe in our homes, and we will continue working tirelessly to protect that.”