A man carried out a "bizarre" burglary by smashing his way through the ceiling of his downstairs neighbour's flat and living there for a few days.
Waseem Chaudry was living in an upstairs South Shields flat when he created a hole in his floor and climbed down into the flat below while the homeowner was working away. Chaudry then spent days in the man's flat, eating his food, drinking his Jack Daniels, and using up his electricity until he was finally caught when the man returned home.
A massive amount of damage was caused by Chaudry after smashing his way through the man's ceiling, with electrical wires found hanging out and debris left all over the carpet. When he was arrested, police found a small amount of cocaine in his possession and he later failed to turn up to court.
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On Friday, Chaudry, 52, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for burglary, possession of cocaine and failing to attend court. He had pleaded guilty to the offences.
The court heard Chaudry was living in an upstairs flat in Saint Vincent Street, when on March 2 last year, his downstairs neighbour went to work away for a few days. Chaudry then smashed a hole through the man's ceiling and entered the flat.
Alec Burns, prosecuting, said Chaudry "parachuted" down into the man's flat via the hole in the ceiling and "took up residence" during the "unusual burglary". He then helped himself to food, drinks and Jack Daniels, whilst using up the electricity. He said: "He was there for around three or four days, using it as his own."
Mr Burns continued: "It must have taken some time, determination and effort to smash his was through his floor and move in. He's actually moved in." He added that despite a "serious amount of damage" being caused to the property, the exact cost is not yet known.
The court heard that the man who lived in the downstairs flat returned home on March 5 to find Chaudry living there, with debris and detritus strewn around. When he asked what he was doing there, Chaudry simply replied he'd cut a hole in the ceiling.
Chaudry had 19 previous convictions for various offences, and had been jailed for eight years in 1996 for conspiracy to supply drugs. Despite his previous offending, the court was told he had stayed out of trouble from 2002 until 2016 and had worked off-shore for a period.
Vic Laffey, defending, said the burglary was "somewhat bizarre, even for an offence of burglary". He said: "The defendant was quite clearly at the time of the offence, and for some weeks after, suffering from the affects of psychosis and puts this at the door of illicit drug use. He was having significant problems with this at the time of his arrest."
Mr Laffey added: "He is hugely apologetic for the problems he's caused to his downstairs neighbour and is extremely remorseful. The defendant's property is in the process of being repossessed, which is a downside for him but an upside to everyone else in his street."
Sentencing Chaudry, Judge Edward Bindloss said the cost of the damage caused has not yet been "quantified, but could be in the thousands". Chaudry was jailed for two years.
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