Boy's Terrifying Midnight Ordeal
An 11-year-old boy from the Wirral experienced what a judge described as a 'terrifying experience' when he woke to find a complete stranger munching on crisps in his bedroom in the early hours of October 22, 2025.
The intruder, Robert Harvey, 34, of Conway Street, Birkenhead, had stumbled into the family home while in a drunken haze around 3am. Liverpool Crown Court heard how the boy, showing remarkable bravery, pretended to be asleep as the stranger wandered through his house.
Family's Courageous Response
While feigning sleep, the quick-thinking youngster managed to send a message to the family group chat to raise the alarm. He then watched as Harvey entered the bedroom where his two sisters were sleeping, though fortunately neither girl woke during the intrusion.
Prosecutor Matthew Dixon detailed how the boy then told Harvey to 'wait there' before sprinting to his mother's room to alert her. The mother discovered Harvey at the bottom of the stairs, where the father of one of her five children confronted him.
When challenged, Harvey began 'mumbling something about the toilet seat being grey', leading the parents to believe he was under the influence of drugs. After attempts to usher him out, Harvey eventually left of his own accord.
Aftermath and Court Sentencing
The family soon discovered that £10 had been taken from a purse, along with a packet of cigarettes and several snacks that had been opened and scattered around the kitchen. Harvey was arrested shortly afterwards in the local area, found in possession of four bags of crisps, the cigarettes, and two £10 notes.
During police questioning, Harvey made 'full and frank admissions' and acknowledged his intoxication. The court heard he has 44 previous convictions for 61 offences and was already on licence from prison at the time of the offence.
Defence lawyer Suzanne Payne told the court her client had recently been diagnosed with ADHD and bipolar disorder, and had been 'very tearful' during his police interview, repeatedly expressing how he couldn't forgive himself.
Harvey pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to 14 months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday. In her sentencing remarks, Recorder Anna Price acknowledged the profound impact on the family, stating: 'This must have been a terrifying experience for that family, who woke up to find a strange man in their house in the early hours of the morning.'
