A shocked couple were left terrified when their son's former friend smashed through their window in scenes which reminded them of Jack Nicholson's "demented" character in the film The Shining.
Allen Moore used a hammer to break the glass and pushed his head through after telling them he was going to murder them, a court heard. The male victim compared it to the character Jack Torrance, from the film, who announces 'Here's Johnny" after smashing through a wall with an axe.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Moore, in the company of two others, went to the home of the parents of a former friend in Concord, Washington, in April 2021. He was looking for the son and didn't realise he had moved out.
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Liam O'Brien, prosecuting, said: "His parents were at home in the sitting room and had enjoyed an uneventful evening and had no idea of the chaos that was about to unfold.
"Just before midnight, the defendant approached the property armed with a hammer. He was unaware (the son) had moved out because he attended to confront him. He announced his arrival by using a hammer to strike and break the kitchen window. This shocked the couple, who jumped to their feet and rushed to the kitchen with a view to finding out what was going on.
"When they got there they saw the defendant. He was furious. Again and again he struck the window, sending shards of glass flying into the kitchen then he pushed his head through the window in an attempt to climb inside."
When the woman told her partner "It's Allen Moore", Moore replied: "Yes it's Allen Moore and I'm going to murder yous and your son".
Mr O'Brien said: "His eyes appeared wild and (the male occupant) said it was like the famous scene in The Shining in which a demented character played by Jack Nicholson breaks through the wall with an axe and chillingly announces 'here's Johnny'.
"He swung the hammer towards the woman, striking her on the hand, causing pain but no lasting injury.
"The defendant put a broom through the window and tried to attack the man. He then repeatedly kicked an external door, damaging it before leaving the scene."
The woman said she had never felt so scared and was left with a pain in her stomach and chest. Mr O'Brien said she was "terrified in her own home".
Her partner added: "I can't believe they have come to my house and done this. It makes me feel very angry."
Allen, 36, of no fixed address, who has 48 previous convictions, was originally charged with aggravated burglary but that was dropped after he pleaded guilty to affray and possessing an offensive weapon. He was jailed for 27 months.
Jonathan Cousins, defending, said: "This was not a dispute of this defendant's but he became involved in it for reason's I think he might struggle to explain now. He was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time.
"He has suffered from mental health difficulties for some length of time but he has made significant progress."
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