Hautefage-la-Tour, France — Two men have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after a violent burglary that traumatized an elderly British couple. The court’s decision comes after the pair attacked the couple in their home, leaving them fearing for their safety.
Celia Bridges, 83, and her partner Bernard Hayes, 76, were so shaken by the August 2022 attack that they felt they had no choice but to leave their home in the serene French countryside. The couple relocated back to the UK, leaving behind the vineyards and hills they once called home.
Tarik El Malouani, 34, received a 14-year sentence for his role in the armed robbery and assault. His accomplice, Fouad Faize, 39, was sentenced to 12 years after the court noted his “less aggressive” behavior during the incident. Prosecutors described both men as a grave threat to safety. Additionally, Yslem Adib, 29, who claimed he was outside during the crime, was handed a 10-year sentence, while Abderrahmane Gomri, 30, received four years for aiding the robbery.
The couple’s ordeal began when they were awoken by the sound of glass shattering and a neighbor’s dog barking. As Bridges opened her bedroom door, she faced two masked intruders wielding knives. During a struggle over her necklace, she was struck in the face and pushed to the floor. Meanwhile, Hayes was held at knifepoint, leading to him losing consciousness after refusing to comply with demands for cash and jewelry.
Throughout the trial, defense lawyers argued that their clients’ troubled backgrounds, including histories of substance abuse, should be considered as mitigating factors. Malouani’s attorney described a childhood marked by hardship, claiming his client resorted to violence under the influence of drugs and adrenaline. However, Bridges strongly opposed the notion that past difficulties should elicit leniency, reminding the court of her own challenges and insistence on never causing harm to others.
Hayes, a former British Airways chief steward and a veteran of the Falklands and Gulf War, expressed the profound fear he experienced during the attack, stating it eclipsed anything he faced in combat. The couple has reported ongoing anxiety and distress following the traumatic event but found solace in the significant sentences handed down to the assailants.
Despite their painful memories, Bridges and Hayes, now back in the UK, strive to rebuild their lives after the harrowing incident that shattered their sense of safety. They hope that the lengthy prison sentences will provide some measure of justice and perhaps deter similar crimes in the future.