Burglar friend avoids jail as “act of mercy”

Saturday 27 July 2019

A man who left his friends feeling “completely violated” by illegally entering their house to steal more than £2,000, has narrowly missed going to jail “as an act of mercy” due to his difficult family circumstances.

Having admitted one count of illegal entry and larceny, the forty-year-old was spared a 18-month jail sentence to allow him to continue to look after his children, and a terminally ill wife.

The Court heard that “his wife’s health and his own mounting debt” caused the defendant to commit the burglary against two of his own friends in an act which left them feeling “completely violated." 

It was heard that the defendant took £2,100 in cash from the house and later volunteered himself to the Police.

Pictured: the defendant stole £2,100 from his friends.

A statement made by one of the defendant’s former friends whom he had stolen from, said that she “felt completely violated that someone had been in [her] house without [her] permission,” and the incident had left her “very anxious.”

She added that her son had “become obsessed with locking the doors and windows” as a direct result of the robbery. 

Crown Advocate Conrad Yates, appearing for the prosecution, said that the defendant “took advantage of the fact that he was their friend to commit the offence.”

As he knew his victims, he was aware where they kept their cash and in what the Crown Advocate characterised as a “planned” offence, he entered their property whilst they were out and took the money “in a moment of desperation.” 

Pictured: The 40-year-old was sentenced in the Royal Court.

The defendant’s lawyer, Advocate Julian Gollop, however denied that his client had planned the burglary, describing this assertion as “little more than speculation on the part of the Crown.” 

He also offered that his client was “deeply embarrassed” and “deeply ashamed” of his actions.

In contrast to the Crown’s recommendation to sentence the 40-year-old to two-and-a-half years in prison, Advocate Gollop entreated the Court to show the defendant some “mercy” due to the fact his wife is terminally ill and that he has children to support.

He therefore made the case for a non-custodial sentence.

Pictured: Advocate Julian Gollop appeared for the defendant.

Handing down the Court’s decision, the Bailiff Sir William Bailhache acknowledge that the defendant had been “under pressure” both at work and at home, but this offending had “breached” the trust between friends. 

“It’s not so much the question of money… It is the violation of the people whose property you enter,” the Bailiff warned him directly. 

Noting that the defendant “deserve[s] to go to prison,” and that the decision to impose community service was “only an act of mercy,” the Bailiff informed the defendant that he will have to carry out 240 hours’ community service as well as paying his former friends back what he stole.