Burglar, 24, who broke into a family house 'to see how other people live' then strangled the wife unconscious when she found him sitting on her bed is jailed for six years

  • Finbar Shirley, 24, climbed through an open window before relaxing on a bed
  • The homeowner confronted him but he choked her until she lost consciousness
  • When arrested, disturbed Shirley told police he wanted to see how others lived 
  • At Canterbury Crown Court, a judge jailed 'significant risk' Shirley for six years 

By Keiran Southern For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A burglar who sat on an elderly couple's bed and took his shoes off before choking a woman unconscious when he was confronted has been jailed for six years.

Finbar Shirley, 24, climbed through an open window before wandering around the house while the homeowners sat downstairs.

While on a trip to the toilet, a woman who lived at the property spotted Shirley but he leaped up and wrapped his fingers around her neck until she collapsed.

In the attack she was unable to scream out to alert her husband downstairs who eventually went to find her only to also be confronted by the intruder.

Finbar Shirley, 24, broke into the home of an elderly couple before taking his shoes off and sitting on the bed. When he was confronted he choked a woman until she lost consciousness 

Finbar Shirley, 24, broke into the home of an elderly couple before taking his shoes off and sitting on the bed. When he was confronted he choked a woman until she lost consciousness 

When he was arrested, Shirley told police he broke into the property so he could see how 'other people live'
A court heard he had an 'unhealthy interest' in the house

When he was arrested, Shirley told police he broke into the property so he could see how 'other people live'.  A court heard he had an 'unhealthy interest' in the house 

Bespectacled Shirley then calmly passed the husband on the stairs and walked out of the house and the police and paramedics were called.

Canterbury Crown Court heard Shirley told officers he wanted to see how others lived. 

A judge jailed him for six years after he admitted burglary and assault after entering the house near Canterbury, Kent, on June 4, last year.

Detective Constable Steve Day said after the sentencing hearing on Friday: 'This is a particularly disturbing case that left the victim and her family absolutely terrified. 

'Shirley had taken an unhealthy interest in the house and then calmly attacked the woman without hesitation when he thought he would get caught.

'He hadn't taken anything but had looked around and then simply sat down on the bed. When the victim came upstairs she was strangled until she passed out. Luckily her husband found her in time, otherwise the outcome could have been a lot worse.

At Canterbury Crown Court, Shirley was jailed for six years after he admitted burglary and assault

At Canterbury Crown Court, Shirley was jailed for six years after he admitted burglary and assault

'Shirley is clearly a significant risk to the public and the victim and her family will no doubt suffer the emotional effects of his attack for some time. He'll now serve time in prison for his behaviour.'

A spokesman for Kent Police said: 'When Finbar Shirley was arrested on the day of the attack he told officers he liked to see how others lived and admitted to climbing through an open window at the woman's house.

'The court heard how once inside the property he looked around the bedroom, took of his shoes and sat down on the bed.

'When the victim went upstairs to use the bathroom during the early hours of the morning she saw the stranger's legs hanging off the end of her bed. When she entered the room, he grabbed her neck and squeezed as hard as he could in order to silence her from alerting the rest of the house.

'The woman passed out and it was only when her husband came upstairs and and saw her laying on the floor that Shirley calmly walked away down the stairs and out of the house.

'The incident was reported to Kent Police, Shirley was identified and subsequently arrested.' 

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