Man sentenced for more than four years in jail for attempted robbery at property in Bildeston, near Hadleigh

A 35-year-old man was sentenced to more than four years in jail for attempted robbery during which two people were struck over the head with a metal pole.

Matthew Boom-Cousins, of Erle Havard Road, in Colchester, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court to four years and four months.

It follows his guilty plea at an earlier hearing.

Boom-Cousins broke into a property in Bildeston, near Hadleigh, on November 14 last year just after 9.30pm through a back door.

He was armed with a metal pole, which he used to strike two female residents over the head.

Both victims suffered gash wounds to their heads, which were bleeding heavily.

Boom-Cousins made comments about wanting money, implying that he knew the residents and that they were dealing drugs as he had been watching them all day.

Police inquiries led to Boom-Cousins being arrested and charged two days later.

DI Richard Prouse said: “This was a case of mistaken identity for the drugs element of the incident and must have been an absolutely terrifying ordeal for the innocent occupants who sustained the injuries.

"They did not know him and to have someone break into your home in darkness, armed and cause injury must have been incredibly traumatic.

“Boom-Cousins will now have plenty of time to reflect on his extremely violent and frightening actions.”