A MUM hid inside a wardrobe with her two-year-old daughter after her ex-partner broke into her home in a “terrifying” late night burglary, a court has heard.

Christopher Williams, 38, of Aust Crescent, Chepstow, received a two year jail sentence suspended for 12 months at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, after pleading guilty to a charge of burglary and a charge of criminal damage.

After being arrested for burgling the home in Raglan Way in Bulwark, Chepstow, Williams told police he had been looking for his cats as he believed they were being mistreated, the court heard.

The court heard his ex-partner had put her two-year-old daughter to bed at around 8pm, before going to bed with her fiancé around an hour later on the night of the burglary on December 16 last year.

Jason Howells, prosecuting, said the victim was woken at around 1am by what she described as “massive banging noises” which came from the back of the home.

The victim, fearing somebody was trying to break down a door, called 999, said Mr Howells.

“The victim and her fiancé heard what sounded like the baby gate being smashed up, and then, in a very scared state, they grabbed their two-year-old daughter and hid in a wardrobe until, to their relief, they saw blue flashing lights outside,” he said.

When police found Williams outside the back door of the home, he attempted to climb over a fence of the neighbouring property before eventually being arrested.

Nothing was stolen in the burglary, though damage estimated at around £300 was caused to the back door.

Damage was also caused to a neighbour’s fence and side gate, the court heard.

In a police interview, Williams told officers he had been searching for his cats at the home, but later pleaded guilty.

In a statement read out in court, the victim said she feared for her and her daughter’s safety.

“I was stunned when I found out it was my ex-partner, Christopher Williams, as until then I though he was alright,” she said.

“I could not believe he could be so stupid.”

Judge Eleri Rees said the break-in had been a “terrifying incident” and had caused a “great deal of distress.”

In mitigation, she said she believed Williams thought the house was unoccupied due to the large amount of noise he was making.

The court heard that Williams has since found work as a handyman repairing properties and that the burglary had occurred after a drug relapse.

A two year sentence was suspended for 12 months. Williams was also ordered to complete a drug rehabilitation programme for nine months.