Burglar struck while pensioner slept

A TEENAGER who took part in a burglary at the home of a disabled pensioner while she was asleep has been sentenced to eight months' detention.

A TEENAGER who took part in a burglary at the home of a disabled pensioner while she was asleep has been sentenced to eight months' detention.

Jamie Mayes, 18, was arrested after police found his fingerprint on a window at the victim's home in sheltered housing in St Andrew's Close, Melton, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Mayes, of Churchman Close, Woodbridge admitted burglary and was sentenced to eight months youth detention less 32 days he has already spent in custody.

Sentencing Mayes Recorder David Anderson described the offence as a “nasty little burglary” and said the victim had suffered sleepless nights as a result of it.

He said the victim who was 83 had described in a victim impact statement how she would lie in bed at night listening for the slightest noise since the break-in.

Godfried Duah, prosecuting told the court that on the night of the burglary in May the woman had gone to bed after shutting one of her windows but not locking it.

The next morning she had gone into her living room and noticed that her purse containing £95 was missing.

Ian Duckworth for Mayes said his client had been out drinking with friends on the night in question. He admitted opening the window so that others could enter the premises and steal the purse but denied going in himself.

He said Mayes had “gone off the rails” and now wanted to put things right.