A burglar who broke into a house and assaulted one of the residents who caught him in the act has been jailed for nearly three years.

Andrew Cash, 25, of no fixed address, was charged with burglary and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He admitted the charges at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday, 11 March and was jailed for a total of two years and eight months.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Rob Guiney said: “The sentence given to Cash reflects the seriousness of his crime as this was a really nasty incident and it’s fortunate the victim was not seriously hurt.”

On Friday, 8 February 2019 a brother and sister had returned to discover their family home ransacked in Nicholl Road, Epping.

Three men, including Cash, was caught running out of the house and towards a car waiting outside described as a black Volkswagen.

The 23-year-old brother chased them and grabbed Cash as he was getting into the car.

The suspects then drove off where they repeatedly assaulted the brother in the back seat, suffering a cut to his head, bruises and grazes.

They stopped in Station Road, where they tried to get the victim out of the car and threatened him with a knife or a screwdriver.

The 23-year-old then pulled Cash out with him and kept hold of him until police arrived a short time later.

Police also stated nothing was stolen in the burglary and the other three suspects are yet to be identified.

Anyone with information is asked to call Loughton CID on 101, quoting reference 42/21237/19.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org