Raider stole charity clothing from Stoke house

TEENAGE burglar Jake Hammersley has avoided an immediate jail sentence after stealing clothes destined for charity in India.

The 19-year-old entered a terrace house, in Stoke, where retro clothing valued at more than £220,000 was stored.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday heard he and another person helped themselves to some of the clothes, which they later exchanged for cash.

Prosecutor Fiona Cortese said the mid-terrace property in Lonsdale Street was used for storing clothing and all the windows were boarded up. It adjoined a student house.

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The daughter of the owner noted everything was in order in September. But when she returned on December 15, she discovered a large amount of clothing had been taken.

"A hole had been made in the first floor corridor above the storage," said Miss Cortese.

"A cigarette recovered from on top of a bag of clothes was found to contain the defendant's DNA."

Hammersley was arrested on January 28.

In his police interview, he said someone had called at his home and told him there were a lot of clothes at the terrace house.

The other person then made a hole in the ceiling and they took about 50 bags. They received £200, which they split between them.

Hammersley said many other people had been in the property and taken clothes. He had been in on three occasions.

Miss Cortese told the court the clothing was mainly retro jeans, worth between £10 and £100 a pair.

She added: "The overall cost, according to the daughter of the now deceased shopkeeper, was in excess of £220,000."

Hammersley, of Boughey Street, Stoke, pleaded guilty to three charges of burglary.

Jason Holt, mitigating, said Hammersley's partner's mother died in November and they were facing financial stress.

"They were in a very difficult position," said Mr Holt.

"He does regret what he did. He saw an opportunity. Somebody knocked on his door and invited him to make some money."

Mr Holt said the clothing was destined for charitable purposes in India. He added that Hammersley is still very young and is trying to change his ways.

Mr Holt asked Judge Robert Trevor-Jones to draw back from passing an immediate custodial sentence. The judge said he could do that, despite Hammersley's unattractive criminal record.

"These are commercial burglaries, although the premises has the appearance of a dwelling house," said Judge Trevor-Jones.

"I accept an opportunity landed in your lap and you joined the bandwagon of others who entered the building and helped themselves to the stock, which it seems had been lying there for some considerable time. You went in on three occasions and helped yourself to a significant amount of property."

Hammersley was sentenced to 12 months' detention in a young offenders' institution, suspended for two years, with 12 months supervision, 180 hours unpaid work and a requirement to attend a thinking skills programme.