Man breaks into Benedict Cumberbatch’s home while brandishing a knife

Benedict Cumberbatch and his family were recently involved in a scary incident after a knife-wielding man entered their North London home and threatened them.

As per the Daily Mail, Cumberbatch and his wife, Sophia Hunter, were in the home at the time with their three children when the man, identified as 35-year-old Jack Bissell, kicked his way through the front gate.

Bissell, who previously worked as a chef at the Beaumont Hotel in Mayfair, allegedly shouted: “I know you’ve moved here, I hope it burns down.”

He also reportedly took one of the family’s plants and threw it against the garden wall, and also ripped the intercom off the building after spitting on it.

The report states that Bissell fled the scene before the police arrived, though they were able to track him down due to the DNA evidence he left at the scene.

From there he was arrested and fined, as well as handed a three-year restraining order from the Cumberbatch family.

“Naturally all of the family were absolutely terrified and thought this guy was going to get in and hurt them,” a source told the outlet.

“Luckily it never went that far. Benedict and Sophie have had many sleepless nights since worrying that they may be targeted again. The fact that it was a targeted intrusion makes it a lot more scary.”

Bissell pled guilty

During this month’s trial, Bissell pled guilty and was sentenced on May 10, though details on when the incident took place haven’t been disclosed.

Prosecutors said that he allegedly told a nearby shopkeeper that he was going to break into Cumberland’s home and burn it down.

Daily Mail adds that facts of the case couldn’t be reported until they “successfully challenged blanket reporting restrictions this week.”

It’s unclear what the connection between Cumberbatch and Bissell is.