EASILY LED TEEN STOLE FROM ROOMS

A teenager with autism burgled rooms at a house he was due to be evicted from, a court heard.

Lincoln magistrates were told that the 18 year old was living in a shared house in Lincoln at the time when rooms were broken into. Suspicion fell upon him because his was the only one untouched.

Kate Minihane, prosecuting, said residents at the Catch 22 property came home to find items including a £900 lap top had been stolen.

“One of the rooms was locked and had been bodily forced open. The other rooms were not locked,” Miss Minihane said.

“A lap top, hair straighteners, an Ipod, and a motorcycle ornament were taken.”

The court heard that the defendant was arrested after police found the ornament at his girlfriend’s home.

“A male matching his description sold the lap top and Ipod. He said he received £35 for them.”

The youth from a Lincoln estate admitted two charges of burglary and asked for a matter to be taken into consideration.

Rachel Taylor, representing, said the youth had autism and was easily led.

“He had been with other people at the time of the offence. They were walking past the rooms when they saw that one was open. He is very easily led and does not appreciate the consequences - but that is autism,” Miss Taylor said.

Magistrates imposed a 12 week sentence in a young offenders instituiton suspended for 12 months with a condition to attend the thinking skills programme. Hudson also has to pay £110 compensation.

CHILDRENS’ DETAILS LOST ON STOLEN COMPUTER

A burglar was seen to climb out of a window with a laptop that contained the personal information of children from a local playgroup, a court heard.

Lincoln magistrates were told the item was never recovered after the burglar took it from his partner’s house.

Paul Wood, prosecuting, said the defendant had denied the burglary. He failed to turn up for a trial and was convicted in his absence after a postman said he recognised him as the person he had seen clambering through a window with the lap top.

“The lap top belonged to his partner’s sister who used it on behalf of a local playgroup,” he said.

“The house had been left secure after a visit by the defendant who made his way back in through a window which the complainant believes he left ajar. “

The 21 year old from Lincoln denied burglary but admitted failing to surrender to custody on July 14.

Roisin McCaffrey, representing, said the young dad was now back with his partner who was expecting another child.

“Because of this he is anxious to get this matter resolved. He handed himself in to police knowing this matter was outstanding. If he had come on the day, he would have admitted theft,” she said.

Magistrates imposed a 12 month community order on him. He is required to spend six months in alcohol treatment. He also has a four month curfew order and will be electronically tagged and he has to pay £479 to the Playgroup.

MAN CONFESSED BURGLARLY TO GIRLFRIEND’S MUM.

A man with a gambling addiction took items from his girlfriend’s sister’s house and then confessed to the girls’ mum when she confronted him, a court heard.
Lincoln magistrates were told that the defendant had let himself into the house with his girlfriend’s key and he then unscrewed a lock on the sister’s bedroom door to get at the items before replacing it.
Jim Clare, prosecuting, said he initially stole a Nintendo console and sold it to a Lincoln store on a buy back scheme and then returned it. He stole and sold it a second time and had intended buying it back but failed to so.
“When the mother got a call from the victim to say she suspected the defendant of stealing from her house, the mother confronted him and asked him if he was in trouble,” Mr Clare said.
“He said no but she asked him to be honest. He put his head in his hands and said yes.
“He does have a gambling problem but he is getting counselling for this.”
The 30 year-old from Lincoln, admitted burglary between October 23, 2008 and January 28, 2009 and the theft of a PS2 console, a PSP, and Nintendo console and Wii worth a total of £809.
Tony Cunningham, representing, said he anticipated the bench would probably want reports before sentencing and magistrates agreed.
They adjourned the case until July 30 and told the man he faces jail.