A pensioner bravely faced a heartless burglar in court and told him about the impact the theft of her father's War medals and precious jewellery had on her. A retired professor, the courageous 74-year-old took her neighbour along for support as she spoke at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday (February 7) about the burglary at her home in Valley Road, West Bridgford.
Convicted burglar Dean Holm, 33, of no fixed address, broke in between New Year's Eve last year and January 3 this year after she had been to visit friends. The victim discovered the break-in on her return, finding Holm had smashed a glass panel in her living room door and ransacked her living room and master bedroom.
The treasured items Holm stole included jewellery, a Rolex watch she inherited from her mother-in-law, watches, and her late mother's gold locket and chain, a gold engagement ring, gold rings, and Royal Navy medals awarded to her father. During the court hearing in which Holm was jailed for three years for the burglary, the victim, who lives alone, said: "I believe a silver necklace with a pendant was stolen which was a gift from my son, a gold ring with a gold criss-cross pattern."
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After her mother passed away in 2015, she said she was going to pass on the jewellery to her children and grandchildren, and will now be unable to do this. "This incident has really upset me," she read from her statement.
"I feel really guilty I have lost my mum's rings and feel I have let myself down losing her jewellery. I feel as if I don't want to spend much time at home. I am not sleeping at the moment and wake up anxious".
After Holm, who has 13 convictions for 27 offence, was jailed, she told Nottinghamshire Live of her career - working in seven universities and how she was a Professor in Education - her responsibilities being for the standards of teachers in Higher Education. She has asked not to be named.
Now retired, she said of the sentence handed down to Holm, 33, of no fixed address: "I wish he hadn't done the burglary and he is not serving the three years. I hope the three years will change his lifestyle."
Mitigating, Luc Chignell said Holm was sincerely ashamed of himself and sorry for the victim. Holm had been a drug addict before he was previously jailed for four years. After prison, he got a job and had two children with his partner.
But five months ago the trigger seemed to be a breakdown in his relationship, resulting in him sleeping on sofa, and he could not keep up with his employment obligations. He spiralled and, with bills to pay and a family at Christmas he could not provide for, he committed this offence.
Detective Sergeant Ben Skellern, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Unsurprisingly this case caused considerable upset to the victim, who is constantly reminded of the stranger who invaded her family home. Many of the treasured items stolen that day have never been recovered and no amount of insurance money can possibly replace them.
“I hope, however, that she can find some comfort in the fact that Holm is now serving a richly-deserved prison sentence. This was an exemplary investigation by all involved that has helped to prevent other residents falling victim to similar offences.”
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