A SINGLE mum’s home was ransacked and almost £1,000 worth of electronics were stolen while her children slept upstairs.

The victim, who lives in Park Terrace, Westcliff, was left terrified after waking up in the middle of the night to find her home had been tipped upside down, cupboards rummaged through and her and her children’s possessions stolen.

Edward Mirga, 32, has now been jailed for one year and six months for the offence, which saw three Nintendo Switch devices, an Amazon Fire tablet and the victim’s purse stolen among other items.

A second man, Amran Hussain, 44, was convicted of using a stolen card that had been taken from the victim’s purse during the burglary.

Nick Bonehill, prosecuting, said: “At 1.06pm on September 10, alcohol was bought from Londis in London Road valued at £21.49.

“Another attempt to use the card was discovered at a nearby Tesco Garage but the card had been cancelled at that point.

“Both suspects were identified by officers and Mr Hussain was using the card. Mr Mirga was seen on CCTV taking the rucksack from the address.”

Mirga was also spotted taking the Nintendo Switch consoles out of the rucksack and showing them to youths.

Later on the same day, September 10, Mirga was involved in a burglary in which he entered another home and stole a Samsung phone.

The victim spotted him leaving the home and called police.

Mirga, of Prince Regent Lane, London and Hussain, of no fixed abode, were identified on CCTV with the items.

They were arrested and appeared in Basildon Crown Court yesterday for sentencing.

It was accepted that Hussain knew the card was stolen when he bought alcohol.

Adekunle Tijani, mitigating, said: “Mr Mirga accepts his behaviour with regards to his offences was not acceptable.

“He saw the offence as opportunistic and says the doors were open to the home. This does not make it less serious.

“The offences were committed to feed his drug habit.

“Mr Hussain was homeless around the period in question and associating with Mr Mirga.”

Her Honour Judge Samantha Cohen sentenced Mirga to 18 months in prison for burglary of a dwelling with theft with no violence.

Hussain was sentenced to two months for fraud by false representation and will be released immediately due to time served.