Drugged up burglar Thomas Nixon has been jailed for seven years A DRUGGED up burglar left a family terrified as he threatened them with a knife after they barricaded themselves in their bedrooms. Thomas Nixon smashed his way into the family home with a shovel before demanding the victims hand over their cash and stole Christmas presents. The couple and their ten-year-old daughter were in bed in Arncliffe Road, Middlesbrough, on December 18 when Nixon broke into their home. The 37-year-old appeared at the bottom of the stairs shouting stay upstairs, there are four of us here with knives , Teesside Crown Court heard.