A "prolific offender" went "off the rails" after finding out his son's killer could be released from prison. Paul Turner, 47, of Wardle Street, Haulgh, burgled a family home in Astley Bridge and attempted to burgle another house just feet away on January 6 last year.
He appeared before Magistrates on January 15 last year charged with burglary, attempted burglary and theft of a vehicle following offences in the early morning of January 6, 2021. Before 2010, he had served time behind bars for offences, including burglary.
Prosecuting, Thomas Sherrington told the court that on January 6 2021, Turner had broken into a family home on Queensbury Close, Astley Bridge and made off in the victim's car, a VW Polo. The victim, who lived at the home with his wife and children, also had his kettle, and TV, which was still attached to a wall bracket, stolen, and was left "fearing for his family's safety" after the break-in, the court heard.
In the early hours of that same morning, officers had also been called to reports of an attempted burglary at a house just a few feet away, on Hurstwood. Mr Sherrington told the court that Turner had climbed "on to a table and ripped down the CCTV camera" which the victim had installed for her safety after "suffering domestic abuse previously."
Mr Sherrington also told the court that the homeowner, who was sleeping there with her three young children got up in the night shortly before 3am, and heard Turner trying her door handles downstairs. She opened her windows to question him, whilst recording him, when he yelled that he was “looking for Justin” before shouting “I want my money. When am I f***ing getting it?”
Turner was charged with three offences, namely burglary, attempted burglary, and theft of a vehicle. The 47-year-old protested his innocence until the morning of his trial, on February 9, when he entered his guilty plea at the last minute.
Sitting at Minshull Street Crown Court for sentence on May 3, the court heard how Turner had committed a number of burglary and theft offences in the past and had battled Class-A drug use and had used drugs on the night of January 6.
Defending, Robert Elias noted that Turner, who was last convicted of dwelling burglary in 2010, had spent a "decade desisting from criminality" but had "gone off the rails" after hearing of the "possible release" of the man jailed for killing his son. The court was also told that Turner had visited his sons grave on the same night of the burglary.
“He has desisted from criminality for ten years. During his gap in offending, he has changed his lifestyle,” he said.
“He found (the news) deeply disturbing and couldn’t cope. He turned back to alcohol and drugs and reverted back to the type of offences from the past. He regrets what he did and he wouldn’t have done it if he was sober, but he had been taking drugs on the night of these offences and had been to visit his son's grave.
"None of us can even comprehend the loss of a child. It is a plausible explanation for why he went off the rails.
“He can be be rehabilitated and contribute towards society again as he has done in the past. He is getting help for his drug problem and is making steps to move forward."
Sentencing, Judge Recorder Neil Usher referred to Turner as being a "regular and prolific offender" up until 2010 and that he "ought to be thoroughly ashamed" for his crimes to which, from the dock, Turner replied: “I am. On so many levels.”
Judge Recorder Usher said: “One of your victims was asleep in her own home with young children when you decided to try and burgle her home. She heard you trying the doors, spoke to you from her bedroom and you told her you wanted money from somebody she didn’t recognise. It seems you then disabled her CCTV to assist you burgling that home.
“That same evening you burgled the home of a couple and then made your escape using their car. It was the damage to the car that lead to police identifying you, and you denied your responsibility and maintained that up until the morning of your trial.
“You have previous convictions for theft and burglary offences. Your last offence saw you spend 29 months in custody for dwelling burglary and here we are, in 2022, with you once again before the court for the same offence.
“Up until 2010 you were a prolific and regular offender, but it’s now 12 years on since you committed any offences. I hope very much this is a one off blip and that you will take this opportunity to deal with your problems."
Turner was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for two years. He is required to complete rehabilitation activity of 25 days, 200 hours of unpaid work, £250 in costs and a victim surcharge.
