Burglar 'trashed' house (From Stroud News and Journal)

Burglar 'trashed' house

2:12pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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A MAN returned home from work to find his sitting room had been 'trashed' and his bedroom subjected to an untidy search by burglars, Gloucester crown court heard today.

In the dock was one of the burglars, Tom Egerton, 18, of Pullens Rd, Painswick, who pleaded guilty to entering James Townsend's house in Hasfield Rd, Quedgeley on April 7th.

He admitted stealing £300 from Mr Townsend's wardrobe during the raid.

Egerton was liable to a three year minimum sentence under the 'three strikes and you're out' legislation because he had committed two house burglaries when he was just 15.

Because he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, however, Judge Martin Picton gave him the maximum 20 percent 'discount' and sentenced him to 2 years 5 months in custody.

Julian Kesner, prosecuting, said the burglary was carried out at 10.30am and a local woman resident saw Egerton and his accomplices unloading equipment including a crowbar from their vehicle.

She took their car registration and called police with a description of the intruders after she saw them going into Mr Towsend's house.

The two other alleged burglars are to be committed to the crown court for sentence next month but Egerton was committed immediately because he was liable to a minimum three years, said Mr Kesner.

Passing sentence, Judge Picton said Egerton would have to serve at least a half his sentence, less 32 days he has already spent in custody, before he is released on licence.

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