Lewis Dawson was with two unknown accomplices when they forced their way into the shed and started attempting to steal the family’s bikes.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the 25-year-old was spotted by the householder when he had his disguise rolled up and she shouted out his name.
Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said Dawson then pulled out the imitation firearm and pointed it at the woman before telling her to get back into the house in the early hours of September 12, 2023.
The court heard how the family had been forced to permanently leave their home as a result of the firearm incident.
Mr Dryden said Dawson was arrested on May 9 last year when he was caught using an angle grinder to try to cut the chain of an e-bike parked outside a bakery in Redcar town centre.
Lewis Dawson (Image: Cleveland Police)
Dawson, of Broadway West, Dormanstown, Redcar, pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm, affray and attempted theft.
Paul Cleasby, mitigating, said his client acted with ‘horrendous stupidity’ when he took a toy weapon with him while they were trying to steal bikes.
“This offence has all the hallmarks of an immature young man; one only has to ask – ‘Who takes a toy gun to a shed burglary?’,” he said.
“If there is a way to make an offence more serious than it needed to be, this defendant has made it that way in a spectacular fashion and then aggravated his position by threatening the householder who know him.
“Disgraceful conduct that has landed him in custody.”
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Judge Jo Kidd sentenced Dawson to a total of three years and six months for all offences.
She said: “In the early hours of the morning, you with other men wearing balaclavas, targeted that property – it was clearly a planned offence.
“You were wearing balaclavas and you were in possession of an imitation firearm. The only conclusion that I can reach is that you were part of a group intent on causing fear to your local community.”
Dawson was also made subject to a seven-year restraining order to protect the family.