A balaclava-clad armed burglar has been convicted of pouring a kettle of boiling water over a terrified householder in front of his wife and 11 year-old step-daughter.
Marcus Hayes, 24, and two accomplices ransacked the suburban semi-detached house (pictured) and also threatened to cut off the victim's ear and poked him with kitchen knives.
He was convicted at Croydon Crown Court of aggravated burglary, while armed with an imitation firearm, at the property in The Ridge, Coulsdson on August 10, 2010.
Hayes was also unanimously found guilty by the jury of falsely imprisoning the three occupants, robbing the couple, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing an imitation firearm with intent.
Prosecutor Claire Robinson told the court it was 4pm when the unsuspecting occupants opened the front door and were confronted by a man holding a gun wrapped in a plastic bag.
Three intruders, one wearing a balaclava and another with a scarf wrapped around his face, burst in.
"The crown say Hayes was the man with the balaclava and he was also wearing a hoodie.
"The man with the gun hit the male victim on the back of the head and they asked questions like: 'Where's the money, where's the jewellery?'
"In the garage they were all held down on the floor and a bracelet and necklace were taken from the woman and her husband was asked to empty his pockets," explained Miss robinson.
The family were frog-marched upstairs as the gang continued the hunt for jewellery and valuables.
"The man was put face-down on the bed and the gun was put to the back of his head.
"One of the intruders started to slowly cut the man's ear with a pair of scissors and he was punched in the face.
"One of the kitchen knives was used to poke him around the body.
"Boiling water from the kettle was poured over his back and the remainder over his thigh and stomach," added the prosecutor.
The couple were left tied-up in the living-room as the gang fled - taking with them a £10,000 diamond solitaire necklace.
The male victim was rushed to Croydon University Hospital , where he was treated for burns to 8% of his body surface.
Hayes dumped his balaclava and hoodie in nearby bushes and police matched his DNA to the clothing.
He was arrested on October 27 and tried to convinced police he previously left the items in a friend's van, but was later charged on December 23.
Judge Shani Barnes announced: "This is a case of an incredibly grave nature and I have to consider whether the defendant goes to prison indefinitely."
Hayes was remanded in custody until May 25 at Lewes Crown Court.
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