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The trial of a 28-year-old man accused of stealing a safe and a bottle of coins worth up to £500 from an islander who considered him "part of the family" opened in the Royal Court yesterday.
Andrew James Richomme denies charges of illegal entry and larceny, and receiving stolen property.
The Royal Court heard on Monday that the alleged victim of the crime had woken up to find both items missing from her property.
The safe was normally hidden by a number of other items, she said, but she found those on her sofa. Only a few people knew she had the safe and coin bottle, she said, adding that Mr Richomme had seen the safe – which contained prescription medication – on a previous visit.
The woman said: “He was part of the family. It hurts so much that it’s him that’s been accused of this because he was like my son.”
She described how he used to come to see her every day.
The jury was shown CCTV footage taken just after 04:00 on a nearby street, which showed two men walking in the direction of the building, and later walking back down the same street, this time each holding items, which the woman identified in court as her safe and coin bottle.
Crown Advocate Christina Hall, prosecuting, explained that the jury would need to identify whether the person in the CCTV footage was Mr Richomme.
The court heard that Mr Richomme was wearing a medical boot on his foot, which matched the footage.
Jurors also heard evidence from a crime scene investigator, who theorised that it might be possible to enter the flat by reaching through the window.
However, no scuffs, fingerprints or marks from shoes were found that would indicate that someone had broken into the flat in this way.
No fingerprints were able to be traced to Mr Richomme, he said.
The jury was shown bodyworn footage of Mr Richomme’s arrest. After being told the reason for his arrest – but without having been told the address – he said: “You taking the p***? That’s my auntie’s gaff.”
At a police interview, he was shown the CCTV, which showed two different angles of the same street. Although he initially said he recognised himself in one of the shots, he then said it wasn't him.
He claimed that his boot was not visible in the footage that he had a more pronounced limp, and that he was not able to drag his leg.
"I'm wearing a boot... and I'm getting accused of breaking into my auntie's house, which is very, actually, upsetting," he said.
"I don't know what that person is f***ing carrying but that doesn't look like me.
"I don't break into anyone's, especially my aunty's gaff."
He added that he did not know the complainant had this money, but he claimed he did know she had a large bottle of coins.
The trial is scheduled to last two more days. The Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, is presiding.
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