A burglar smashed his way into a neighbour's home using a spade and stole a TV and an Xbox.
Dean Smith left his victim terrified to return to his home after he broke in through a window, stole belongings and rooted around his bedroom. The 37-year-old went back and forth into the property for around an hour and a half after breaking in overnight on September 24, last year, Durham Crown Court heard.
On Wednesday, Smith appeared at the court to be sentenced for burglary. He pleaded guilty to the single charge at a previous hearing.
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Martin Towers, prosecuting, said the burglary was committed jointly with another unknown person at Belle Vue Court, Durham when the victim was away. He said: "The landlord called him the following day to say that the windows had been smashed. He went to investigate and discovered he had been burgled . A 43 inch TV and an Xbox had been stolen from the living room and an untidy search of the bedroom had been carried out and clothes had been removed and thrown around the room. He was scared to go back and spent several days at a friend's house."
Mr Towers said another neighbour had been woken up by the sound of broken glass and saw Smith, who he recognised, "swinging a spade towards the window". He said: "The defendant spent about an hour and a half going back and forth and was positively identified."
Smith was seen loitering around the scene the next day when crime scene investigators were in the area and he was arrested soon after. The court heard he had 79 previous offences on his record, including a non-dwelling burglary in 2003 and a racially aggravated offence dating back to January 2020 for which he received a suspended prison sentence.
Neil Jones, defending, said Smith was "ashamed" and "extremely remorseful" for carrying out the burglary and that drink and drugs were the "linchpin of what was happening on this dreadful occasion". He said: "He had a combination of drugs and drink which badly affected his behaviour. He was pretty much oblivious to what had happened until the following day. He actively tried to distance himself from the whole thing."
Mr Jones added that Smith has "mercurial mental health" issues and "ongoing difficulties". He said: "For the last 80 days he has not taken any recreational drugs at all and is beginning to turn a corner. He has decided that recreational drugs are not for him and keeps himself off them."
Sentencing Smith, of Belle Vue Court, Durham, Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, said he was going to give him a chance to comply with a community order, but warned him: "If you and I meet again, you will be going downstairs." Smith was given a 15 month prison sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to complete 30 rehabilitation activity days.
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