CORONATION Street star Stephanie Beacham has revealed how she feared for her life when a junkie, hammer-wielding burglar broke into her home.
The actress, 76, was at her £750,000 home in Bayswater, West London, when she came face-to-face with David Wilson.
He had only been released from prison days earlier when he smashed his way into the house and ransacked it.
Dynasty star Stephanie was threatened with a hammer as the intruder demanded cash and jewellery.
Brave Stephanie has now spoken out about the 2022 ordeal after Wilson was jailed for ten years and five months.
She told Mail Plus it was the “very first time” she felt old as there was “absolutely nothing I could do”.
Read more on the horror
The star added: “He held a crowbar over my head, saying: ‘Give me your money. Give me your jewellery. Don’t look at me. Don’t look at me’.
“And then he said: ‘I wish you weren’t here.’ That was not too good because when I heard that I thought ‘oh. In a minute, I’m going to die’.”
Wilson – described as a “habitual career burglar” – broke into Stephanie’s home in September 2022.
He threatened the star and ordered her into another room while he ransacked her home for her cash, gems, phone, chequebook and keys.
Most read in Showbiz
Stephanie says she channelled Jodie Foster in Panic Room as she cowered in the bathroom while “bug-eyed” Wilson carried on the raid.
She said: “I don’t know why I thought of Jodie Foster and what she does in that film [Panic Room].
“But do you know what I did? I picked up a sponge that was on the end of a plastic stick and I was holding it like some sort of weapon.
“I mean, what exactly was I going to do? Wash his face?”
Wilson was caught thanks to Stephanie’s CCTV and later admitted aggravated burglary.
He had stolen an Apple iPhone, a purse, an American Express Card, Barclays debit card, driving licence, chequebook, house keys and a pair of earrings.
The total loss came to £1,873 – with £593 of that amount going towards replacing security locks at the home Stephanie has lived in for 25 years.
Speaking about his jail sentence, the actress said: “I do think: poor man. He was a drug addict needing money for drugs, I suppose, and even his face was cut from falling through the conservatory.
“It’s quite correct that he should not get away with what he did, but also, to be on drugs because your life is so bad that you need to hide away from it, well, you can see the wretchedness.”
From Colorado to the Cobbles – how Stephanie rose to fame
Golden Globe-nominated Stephanie rose to fame in BBC drama Tenko.
She also played Sable Colby in the hit US show Dynasty alongside Joan Collins and John Forsythe.
The role led to a spin-off show called The Colbys, with Stephanie starring in 49 episodes between 1985 and 1987.
She has appeared in various other TV shows including Bad Girls and Casualty.
The star also had stints on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2010.
Stephanie also returned as Ken Barlow’s love interest in Coronation Street.
In her real romantic life, Stephanie has dated Marlon Brando, Imran Khan and Eric Clapton.
