Wedding pair targeted (From Warrington Guardian)

Wedding pair targeted

A COUPLE went abroad to get married and returned home to find their house had been burgled at least twice and more than £10,000 worth of belongings stolen.

Ian Freeman, aged 35, was sentenced at Warrington Crown Court on Monday for burglary with intent at the home on Bardsley Avenue, Dallam, in February last year. But he was sentenced on the basis that the property had already been burgled by the time he entered it.

Simon Rogers, prosecuting, told the court: "The owners had gone to Mauritius to be married and during that period they suffered a burglary at the address. A range of electrical goods were stolen including a TV and DVD player as well as two cars from the driveway, a Volkswagen Golf and a Citroen Saxo."

He said the parents of one of the couple had noticed something wrong with the property and a later search discovered a torch had been left on the kitchen top. A DNA profile later matched the defendant to the torch.

He added that although Freeman had gone in with the intention to steal he had not taken any property.

Simon Berkson, defending, said: "He was drunk at the time he went into an already burgled property. Since the completion of this offence I am not aware that he has carried out any others."

Judge Stephen Everett told him that if he had completed the first burglary he would have faced a sentence of either three or four years in prison. He said: "What you did was not that sophisticated, you left behind a torch with your DNA. You could not complain if I sent you to prison.

"But not without misgivings I am going to give you a chance to continue your good behaviour."

The plasterer was sentenced to a combination order including 100 hours of unpaid work in the community as well as a community rehabilitation order. He was also ordered to pay £400 towards prosecution costs.