A terrified mum has demanded a change in the law over early release of prisoners after a thug out on parole broke into her home armed with a knife.
Lauren Lynn has been left traumatised after the hooded knife fiend stood at the end of her bed after creeping into her home. Her two year old child was asleep in the room when the intruder entered and Lauren says her four children are now living in terror.
Police are hunting for the thug – who we can’t name for legal reasons – after he went on the run after targeting Lauren’s home in the middle of the night. But Lauren has bravely spoken out over her ordeal to demand answers over why the knifeman – who she knows – had been allowed out early from a six year jail term imposed in 2021 for a serious violent offence.
The 33-year-old mum said: “He was given a six-year-sentence and out in less than four. I’m sure the person he attacked won’t be happy to hear that. Clearly he has not learned any lessons. I’m absolutely furious that someone with a violent record can be let out so early.
“I believe some people shouldn’t be released early from jail terms for violent offences as they can do stupid things like this.”
The Record understands police know the identity of the intruder and are currently trying to track him down. Lauren shared video footage with the Record which shows a hooded figure walk brazenly up the street before creeping about the garden and heading towards the door of her house. A weapon is visible in his hand.
He entered Lauren’s house as she, her partner and her two-year-old child were asleep in the same room. Her three other children were asleep in a separate room. Describing her ordeal, Lauren told how she was stunned when she was roused from her sleep at 2.30am to find a hooded figure walking towards her bed with a knife in his hand.
The terrified mum jumped up before her partner was fully awake and tackled the knifeman, pushing him down the stairs and out her front door. The ordeal has left her young children scared to sleep in their own home.
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Lauren told the Record the incident, which happened on 13 November in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, has left her furious with the authorities as the man was out on early release.
She said: “I was asleep when I heard a noise. I saw a hooded figure in the darkness coming towards my bed, I could see he had a knife in his hand. My partner hadn’t properly woken up so I jumped up, grabbed him and pushed him down the stairs and out the door before calling the police. I knew who it was straight away.
“Of course the children heard the commotion and it’s left them all scared to sleep in their own home. What this man has done is the lowest of the low. My children are suffering trauma because of this. It’s absolutely disgusting behaviour. My two year old was in the room with us.”
Lauren added: “We have the CCTV of him creeping about the garden area and you can clearly see the knife in his hand. I dread to think what would’ve happened if I hadn’t woken up. People should feel safe in their own home.”
Lauren told how police have not yet tracked down the knifeman, saying: “The police were last in touch about a week ago and said they aren’t any further forward. I feel quite helpless knowing he is out there and not been caught yet.
“It’s stressful but also for the kids who should be looking forward to Christmas and not worrying about an intruder coming into their house while they are asleep. It’s traumatic for them. I really feel like if I hadn’t woken up I would most likely have been attacked.
“It’s been a horrible ordeal for all of us.”
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Police Scotland have been contacted for comment.
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