Raider apologises for house error

The thug, in a balaclava and waving a baseball bat, brushed past the 16-year-old boy who answered the front door.

He then marched into the living room but realised he had blundered when he found only a single mother and her seven-old-son cowering in fear.

Last night the woman, who asked not to be named, said: “It was all very weird and frightening but at least he was polite.

“He was 6ft tall and built like tank, but when he saw me I could tell he was as shocked as we were. He just kept saying, ‘I’m sorry’ and started backing off as I walked toward him.

“Then he turned round and casually walked out the door and down the street.”

The family have been traumatised by the scare which happened as they watched television at home in Blackburn, West Lothian.

The mother added: “We were all absolutely petrified and my seven-year-old had nightmares after it. I didn’t sleep a wink. It was all so bizarre and silly I can’t really get my head around it. I’ve been laughing with disbelief since it happened even though it was very scary.”

Last night police said they had no idea whether the would-be attacker ever found his real victim.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman added: “It seems clear he was looking for someone in particular but whether he ever got to his intended victim we simply do not know.

“We have had no reports of similar incidents. After he realised he had got the wrong house in this case he simply walked off. However, this is extremely frightening and distressing for the woman and her two sons, and it was fortunate he realised his mistake before anyone was hurt.”

Despite her shock, the woman spotted one vital clue when the man burst into her maisonette – his ginger eyelashes.

It was the only thing she could see because other features were hidden by a balaclava. Police have appealed for any information on the attack which happened at about 9:20pm on Monday.

The 30-year-old woman was on the phone to her mother when the raid happened.

Although she is just 4ft 11in tall, she jumped up and stood right in front of the intruder with her younger son at her side and her older boy behind her.

She said: “It was all over in seconds. As soon as he realised he had made a mistake, he backed off saying he was sorry.

“My youngest boy is particularly upset by it. He was screaming and has suffered nightmares since.

“I almost felt guilty about phoning the police at first because this guy had been so apologetic towards us.

“But no family should suffer something like this – kids should be able to feel safe and secure in their own homes.”

The family moved into the three-bedroomed flat in October. The mother says she has been unable to sleep at all since the incident.

She added: “I’m a bag of nerves and every little noise makes me jump out of my skin.”