A RETIRED teacher who chased after a burglar has been praised for his courage by a judge.Awarding 66-year-old John Feavyour £300 from the High Sheriff's fund Judge John Devaux said he had chased after convicted burglar Matthew Scales without a thought for his own safety.
A RETIRED teacher who chased after a burglar has been praised for his courage by a judge.
Awarding 66-year-old John Feavyour £300 from the High Sheriff's fund Judge John Devaux said he had chased after convicted burglar Matthew Scales without a thought for his own safety.
“He couldn't have known that he wouldn't have turned on him and used violence,” said the judge.
He said that Mr Feavyour could have just dialled 999 and sat back and waited for the police to arrive which would have allowed Scales to escape.
The court heard that Mr Feavyour had been on the ground floor of his home in Tuddenham Road, Ipswich when he saw Scales outside.
“With some courage he went after him,” said Robert Sadd prosecuting.
He said that Mr Feavyour chased Scales for a distance of 11 houses before physically detaining him.
Scales had handed back a wallet he had stolen from Mr Feavyour and asked him not to call the police.
Scales, 27, of Samuel Court, Ipswich admitted theft of a handbag from an elderly woman in the Glasshouse Café in Ipswich town centre in February last year and the burglary at Mr Feavyour's house. He was jailed for a total of 35 months less 38 days he has already spent in custody.
The court heard that in December 2004 Scales had been jailed for three years for three burglaries at the homes of elderly people in Diss. In 2002 he had been jailed for 30 months for three other burglaries.
Sentencing Scales, Judge John Devaux said he had committed the burglary at Mr Feavyour's house within hours of leaving court in relation to the theft of a handbag from the customer at the Glasshouse.
He said that in a statement made to the police after the burglary Mr Feavyour had spoken of his outrage that Scales had walked into his house and helped himself to his belongings including a wallet and cash.
“He didn't concern himself about what misery he could have caused me,” said Mr Feavyour in his statement.
David Wilson, for Scales said his client was currently on a detoxification wing in prison and was benefiting from medication he was receiving.
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