A GRAND Designs architect said he feels unsafe after armed robbers nearly broke into his “dream home”.
David Liddicoat, whose work has appeared on the popular Channel 4 series, was at his home in Kent with his partner and their two children during the raid.
Kent PoliceBodycam footage shows Danny McGuire being arrested following the attempted raid at David Liddicoat’s house[/caption]
He and the family hid upstairs and called 999 while a teenager armed with two knives and another man tried to force their way in.
The police quickly arrived at the scene and arrested the pair before they could get into the property.
The award-winning architect told a judge that he was deciding whether he should remain in the area after the break-in.
He said: “The attack happened a few months after we had finished building our dream home, but we have since considered selling and leaving the house.”
Canterbury Crown Court learnt that David “stood in shock” as the would-be raiders attempted to knock down his door.
He’d heard rattling by the rear patio door and ringing at his doorbell.
David went to open the door where he was greeted by two men – Owen Lake, 18, and Danny McGuire, 28, with the younger one brandishing two blades.
He would later describe it as the “most frightening” sword.
The Grand Designs architect quickly slammed the door on the pair after they tried to wedge it open with their blades.
My home no longer feels like a sanctuary for me or my young children
David Liddicoat
After securely locking the door he retreated upstairs with his family who were terrified.
Once upstairs they began shouting from the window in the hope of scaring away the burglars and alerting the neighbours.
The police eventually arrived after David’s wife made a second call and the two intruders were apprehended.
Lake was arrested on the street outside and McGuire was tracked down to his hiding place by a dog handler.
The pair were both convicted of attempted aggravated burglary.
David told the court that he and his family no longer feel safe in the area.
I thought it was a sword or knife but it happened so quickly, it had the same dimensions as a crowbar
David Liddicoat
He added: “I previously felt that … was a safe space, but my home no longer feels like a sanctuary for me or my young children.”
The court learned that David’s family believed the armed raiders had left after they had hidden upstairs.
However, the burglars had run into a building site next door and were still attempting to break into their house via scaffolding and through a side window.
A wooden-handled knife with a bent blade was found hidden behind a ladder outside the property and a broken tip of another weapon inside the doorway.
Lake was also convicted of having a bladed article.
David had accused McGuire of also carrying a small kitchen knife, but the jury acquitted him of that charge.
He said: “At first I thought it was a sword or knife but it happened so quickly, it had the same dimensions as a crowbar.”
Lake was sentenced to 38 months in a young offenders’ institute but will be released after serving half the term.
McGuire was assessed as a dangerous offender and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Channel 4David designed this house which featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs[/caption]
Channel 4David’s and his partner, Sophie Goldhill, properties have won RIBA House of the Year awards[/caption]