A BURGLAR has been jailed after he admitted breaking into a house armed with a metal cosh and cable ties before stealing a Rolex watch and a rare breed of French bulldog.

Garry Sharman, of Queen Elizabeth Way, Colchester, will serve a prison sentence until at least 2028 after he broke into the address in Halstead with two other men so he could steal £25,000 of luxury items.

Chelmsford Crown Court also heard how Sharman, 58, stole an Isabella French bulldog and left his victim badly injured whilst the group of thieves made off with a Rolex watch, a gold chain, a silver engagement ring, and cash.

Gazette: Sentenced – Garry Sharman will walk free in 2028, by which time he will be 63Sentenced – Garry Sharman will walk free in 2028, by which time he will be 63 (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

The burglary took place in Reed Meadow, Halstead, in May 2023, with Sharman admitting a single charge and receiving a five-year prison term on Thursday.

Mr Recorder Dennison said the burglary was aggravated by the fact it was pre-meditated, and was undertaken at the victim’s home as part of a group.

The court heard how Sharman had threatened the victim before the burglary, telling him how he would be beaten up and have his dog stolen.

The burglary unfolded on May 24 last year when Sharman and two others arrived at Reed Close, Halstead, in a white van.

Gazette: Jailed – Garry Sharman will serve a five-year termJailed – Garry Sharman will serve a five-year term (Image: Essex Police)

The trio entered his house whilst Sharman was armed with a cosh and cable ties as part of a plan to tie up the homeowner.

Mr Recorder Dennison said: “You threw liquid into his face and hit him over the head with a metal cosh; he was punched a number of times and you tried to tie him up.

“One of you grabbed him by the throat and said, ‘you can do this the easy way, or the hard way’.

“He managed to fight back by throwing punches back and threatening you with knives he was able to grab – that caused you to leave his house.”

Gazette: Burglary – Sharman, of Queen Elizabeth Way, Colchester, had previously threatened the victim before carrying out the crimeBurglary – Sharman, of Queen Elizabeth Way, Colchester, had previously threatened the victim before carrying out the crime (Image: Newsquest)

He added by saying Sharman had “a terrible record of previous convictions” dating back to 1979 when he was 14.

Sharman’s defence lawyer said he had been stealing to fuel his cocaine addiction and had showed in the past he can go several years without offence.

Passing the sentence, Mr Recorder Dennison handed Sharman a seven-and-a-half-year jail term, though he will serve five years before being released on licence.