Pensioner woke to see burglar’s hand coming through window:
CULPRIT WENT ON TO STEAL FROM PARKED CAR
APENSIONER woke in the early hours to find a woman trying to open her bedroom window from the outside, a court heard.
Kelly Bates spotted that the top part of the window was slightly open and reached inside to open it to gain access to the bungalow in Holyhead.
The pensioner grabbed Bates’ arm, there was a struggle, and Bates fell to the ground outside before calmly getting up and walking away, the court heard, and then going on to steal items from a parked car nearby.
The 32-year-old, of Maes yr Ysgol, Holyhead, was arrested later after fingerprints were matched to her.
Bates admitted a charge of burglary and appeared via video link from prison at a hearing in Mold Crown Court for sentence. She also admitted charges of theft and attempted theft.
Elen Owen, defending, said the offences were committed against a background of mental health issues. She urged the judge to allow Bates to have support in the community.
But Judge Rhys Rowlands said the charges were too serious for anything other than immediate custody, and jailed Bates for 10 months.
Prosecution barrister Nicholas Williams said the three offences occurred on the same night in May. He said the burglary occurred at the bungalow in Penrhos Beach Road in Holyhead at about 2.10am.
“The occupants had gone to bed at about midnight and ... were woken by the sound of the blinds being disturbed and saw an arm reach in through the top window.”
Bates then walked away and CCTV footage showed her approach a car parked in nearby Llanfawr Road which was unlocked, and stole a child’s scooter and other items. Her fingerprints were found in the vehicle.
Bates had a previous conviction for burglary and, since these offences last May, she had served two jail terms for shoplifting.