Ipswich man stole from mother

AN IPSWICH man who claimed he was neglected as a child was sentenced to a year in custody after stealing his mother's flat screen television.

Jamie McCleary, of Geneva Road, committed burglary then rang police admitting the crime, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

The 21-year-old, who was in local authority care from the age of seven or eight, told officers he wanted to be arrested and hoped to do a mechanical course while in custody.

In addition to the 32-inch television, the court heard how McCleary took a mobile phone and an X-box from his mother's house on the same evening.

Michael Crimp, prosecuting, described how he contacted the police on January 26 and admitted guilt.

He appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates Court on February 2 and was granted conditional bail. A day later, he contacted the police and said he would throw a brick through his mother's window if not arrested.

Russell Butcher, defending, said McCleary had an “unstable relationship with his mother.”

“He was tired of criminal activity and alerted the police himself, although this was rather a double-edged sword,” he said.

McCleary pleaded guilty to three charges of theft, burglary and threatening to damage property.

This included the theft of �520 of goods from a car on the Pinewood estate earlier this year.

The defendant had previously spent eight months in a Young Offenders Institute for robbery committed in December 2006.

On sentencing, Judge John Devaux said: “No-one denies you the wretched childhood and I acknowledge the relationship you had with your mother.

“But it was a premeditated act and you do have a criminal record.”

He was sentenced to 12-months each for burglary and threatening to damage property, and six-months for theft.

The sentences will be served concurrently.