Three men sentenced for 30 years after violent burglary
The men entered a family home with an imitation firearm, a knife and knuckledusters
Three men have been jailed for a combined 30 years after forcing their way into a family home in Devonport, Plymouth, armed with weapons in what a court described as a violent and terrifying aggravated burglary.
The incident took place on 17 February 2024, when the group—armed with an imitation firearm, a knife, and knuckledusters—burst into the home while two children were upstairs. The attackers assaulted the homeowner and a friend, making repeated demands for money.
Police have provided the door camera footage of the night in question:
On Friday, 13 June 2025, Curtis Smith, 22, of Elburton Road, Plymouth, and Altan Tezcan, 37, of Hackney, London, were each sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court to eight and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary.
Engin Timur, 35, also from Hackney, who drove the men to the property, admitted the same charge and is due to be sentenced at a later date.
A fourth man, Bektas Gurgur, 40, of Stamford Road, Tottenham, was previously found guilty by a jury and sentenced to 13 years in prison.
The court heard that Gurgur, Smith, and Tezcan stormed the property while Timur waited outside. The incident was captured on a doorbell camera, showing the men making threats and launching a sustained assault on the two adults inside.
Smith carried a knife, Tezcan held an imitation firearm, and Gurgur was seen giving orders and searching the home. The attackers stole £12,500 in cash and a number of keys before fleeing in a vehicle.
Tezcan and Timur were arrested in London, Smith in Plymouth, while Gurgur evaded capture for several months before being apprehended.
The stolen money has not been recovered.
Sentencing the three, Judge Robert Linford said the victims would have been “absolutely terrified”. He noted that there were children in the house at the time and threats to shoot had been made during the violence.
Judge Linford added: "Offences like these do not occur on spur of the moment. This was a significantly planned burglary. You burgled, you stole, you left and three of you went back to London."
Detective Constable Lee Sheldon said: “I want to personally thank the victims and the wider family for their patience and assistance in bringing this offender to justice, and more so their bravery to take this matter to court, in what has been a complex and extensive investigation."