Burglars caught carrying a television on the streets in the early hours of the morning told a police officer they had just bought it. They later admitted stealing the television and had taken it after entering the wrong house.
Kyle Butts, 39, and Leanne Perrett, 38, were seen by a neighbour arguing in the street outside the Barry home of their victim at 12.45am on June 5 last year. Perrett was dragging a bag on wheels and could be heard screaming: "You ain't got bank cards, you haven't got phones, you haven't got nothing."
A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard the neighbour looked out of her window and saw the couple as Perrett said: "I never want to see you again." Butts walked off but later returned carrying a television on his back.
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The police were called and spoke to the defendants and when asked about the television Perrett said: "For God sake – he's just bought it. She was rolling a large suitcase at the time and told police they had been arguing after Butts had broken her television but they had made up after he had bought her a new one."
The victim returned his home the next day to discover a number of items had been taken including a Logic TV and remote, an Amazon Fire TV Stick, JVC speakers, Ray-Ban sunglasses, an Armani watch, a Mickey Mouse backpack, JBL speaker, a battery pack, Nike trainers, and a beard trimmer. Both Butts and Perrett were arrested and all of the items were returned to the victim. Perrett claimed she had been at a friend's house when Butts returned with the television from a burglary. She described herself as "high" on Valium and said she had told him to get rid of it but Butts claimed he had bought the TV from a friend for £100.
Both defendants later pleaded guilty to burglary. Butts, of Fairfield Crescent, Llantwit Major, and Perrett, of Holton Road, Barry, had many previous convictions and both had been convicted of assaulting an emergency worker and using threatening words or behaviour to cause fear of violence. The incident, which took place on August 8, 2020, was filmed and resulted in Perrett being Tasered after she threw punches at police officers. Perrett was three months pregnant at the time of the incident and suffered a miscarriage in the subsequent days. There was no medical evidence to say the incident had been the direct cause. Both received suspended prison sentences in respect of the incident.
See that incident in this footage:
In mitigation Stephen Thomas, for Perrett, said his client accepted responsibility for the burglary but could not remember what happened because she had been drinking and taking drugs for a week. Hannah Friedman, for Butts, said her client had entered the wrong house but accepted stealing the items. She said he had been in care from the beginning of his life and has been "in and out of trouble".
Butts was sentenced to a total of 68 weeks imprisonment. Perrett was sentenced to a total of 58 weeks imprisonment.
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