Last chance for 'stupid' Fenton burglar
A BURGLAR who was part of a gang who ransacked a family home has been spared a jail sentence.
Robert Betts, aged 21, was with friends in Newcastle when he was asked if he wanted to 'do some burglaries', Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard yesterday.
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Prosecutor Fiona Cortese said the homeowner left her property at about 11am on August 12 and returned at 8pm on August 15, after her daughter called her to say she had been burgled.
"When her daughter attended she saw a number of kitchen units opened, the freezer was pulled out with frozen food on the floor and two bedrooms were ransacked," said Miss Cortese.
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The court heard a computer system, a DVD player, three watches, DVDs and a Sky card were stolen, together worth £865.
A scenes of crime officer recovered fingerprints from a DVD in the lounge and a shoebox in a bedroom which linked Betts to the crime.
He was arrested on September 5 and told officers he was with friends who entered the house and he followed.
Betts said he and the group went to the property in Heath Avenue, May Bank, and gained entry through the back door. He said he stayed downstairs all the time and left on his own without the others. But he said he was aware the others took a computer with them, which he believed had been sold.
Betts admitted it was a 'stupid idea' and added he had been easily led.
The defendant, of Burnham Street, Fenton, pleaded guilty to burglary.
Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said Betts accepted being a member of a group but he was not the instigator.
"There was some peer pressure, he was trying to establish himself as part of the group," said Mr Muldoon.
He added Betts no longer mixes with those associates and now has a more settled and stable environment.
Recorder Bal Dhaliwal said the offence was made more serious because Betts was subject to a number of court orders at the time.
"You have an appalling record of failing to comply with court orders," said the judge.
"Each time the court gives you an order you decide to not do what you are told."
But Recorder Dhaliwal was told Betts is turning his life around and is engaging with probation. She decided to give Betts a final chance and sentenced him to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 18 months supervision and 36 hours at an attendance centre. He must also pay £430 compensation.
Recorder Dhaliwal added: "This is a very serious offence where you have violated someone's sense of being inside their own premises."
8 Comments
by asif1979
Friday, February 01 2013, 2:56PM
“inter breeding at its finest”
by sweatysock
Thursday, January 31 2013, 6:47PM
“HOTEL 'DOVEGATE' very soon..well done 'judge' for showing you really are clueless this means another victim or 3 before another day in court well done..”
by Notanumber
Thursday, January 31 2013, 12:42PM
“Groan... Not the last chance again? I don't even know what the word is for the last chance after the previous last chance. Someone enlighten me. It comes over a lot like people saying I am giving 110%... No you aren't. When you thought you were at 100% it was actually 90%.
If had been the judges or magistrates house do you think this idiot would have been available for a burglary booking?”
by spudder56
Thursday, January 31 2013, 8:52AM
“He will without doubt be in court many times over the coming years and become a burden on the taxpayer MORON”
by dougalcross
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 9:11PM
“I only hope his wrists are sore from all the taps this moron's wrists have received.
Next time - and there WILL be a next time - it must be "no messing, straight into the pokey."”
by Churros35
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 5:10PM
“justice system what a load of **** bang him up for his full sentence as he has not learnt yet. moron”
by A_Reader
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 4:57PM
“It's astonishing that these people get chance after chance but they don't give their victims a chance, do they? What would he have to say if someone ransacked his home and stole his property? Perhaps this ought to be the sentence - like for like?”
by BucknallMel
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 2:03PM
“Well, obviously the fact that he wasn't bother by any of his previous taps on the wrist doesn't mean it won't work THIS time, eh? Expect to see this - person - back in court next month...”