Jack Bissell, 35, kicked his way through iron gate’s into the actor’s front garden before screaming abuse down the intercom.
He yelled: “I know you’ve moved here, I hope it burns down.”
The former chef de partie at the five-star Beaumont Hotel in Mayfair then yanked out a plant and threw it at the garden wall.
He spat on the intercom before trying to rip it off with a fish knife during the attack at the North London home, a court heard.
Cumberbatch, 46, his wife Sophie Hunter, 45, and their three young kids were in the property at the time and could hear Bissell breaking in.
A source told MailOnline: “Naturally all of the family were absolutely terrified and thought this guy was going to get in and hurt them.”
Bissell fled but was cuffed after police found his DNA on the intercom he’d spat on.
Prosecutors heard how before the attack, Bissell bought two packets of pitta bread from a nearby shop.
During the visit he shouted to the shopkeeper of his plans to break into the Cumberbatch home and burn it down.
It is not clear why Bissell targeted the Sherlock star’s family home and he offered no defence when he appeared at Wood Green Crown Court.
After admitting criminal damage earlier this month, Bissell, from Kentish Town, North London, was fined £250 and given a three-year restraining order.
It bans him from going near the Cumberbatch family or the area they live.
Mr Cumberbatch and Ms Hunter are reported to have had “many sleepless nights” fearing a repeat raid.
Bissell has a previous conviction for theft, three warnings for offences against property, a public order offence and a drug offence.
In 2015 he was arrested in just his underwear while protesting against military intervention in Syria.