‘Defendant’s partner had lost baby at time of crime’

DEFENCE barrister Clare Thomas said Kieran Devlin had just lost his unborn baby at the time of the burglary.

She told the court: “He has a lengthy record and has served some lengthy custodial sentences in the past.

“At the time of this offence the defendant describes experiencing a difficult period in his life.

“His partner had miscarried their child and that had a very serious effect upon him.

“He is somebody who had a fractured relationship with his own parents and he didn’t deal with his grief well. He returned to drinking and taking drugs which had blighted his life. He is thoroughly ashamed of himself and wishes to apologise through me. He was living with his partner in Accrington. They had some difficulties there and had to move to the Blackpool area to get away.”

Sentencing, Judge Sara Dodd said: “Having made a very poor start in terms of offending you managed to put your life in some sort of order for a very significant period of time.

“The events which led you to turn back to crime I’ve no doubt were very traumatic, but the way in which you handled your grief just cannot be condoned.”