Burglar caught sleeping in his victim’s bed asked for cigarette
A BURGLAR who was caught sleeping in a bed in his victim’s house demanded a cigarette and had to be carried out by police officers.
Robert Clarke was later remanded in custody and attacked a prison officer with a plastic spoon he had sharpened into a point when asked to return to his cell.
Speaking at Cardiff Crown Court, prosecutor Lucy Crowther said the defendant was “difficult” with the police.
The court heard the burglary happened on May 22 last year at Poplars Close in Abergavenny.
Prosecutors said a family member went to check on the property while the householder was in hospital and found a back window had been smashed, so phoned the police.
Ms Crowther told the court: “Officers searched the property and found the defendant asleep in a bed.
“He was difficult with them and demanded a cigarette. He had to be carried out of the property.”
The court heard three days later he was seen in an alleyway outside a pub in Abergavenny at 10.20am performing a sexual act.
He was taken to Newport Central Police Station and remanded in custody at HM Parc Prison in Bridgend.
Prosecutors said he assaulted prison officer Sam Kedward on September 12 last year.
Ms Crowther said prisoners who did not have jobs were required to return to their cells but Clarke refused.
The court heard the officer told him it was prison policy and Clarke hit him in the face before spitting at him and throwing further punches.
Prosecutors said the defendant then produced a plastic spoon he had sharpened to a point and cut him to the top of his eye and ear.
The court heard Clarke had 43 previous offences on his record.
The 48-year-old, who does not have a fixed address, admitted burglary, criminal damage, resisting a police officer, outraging public decency, and wounding.
Doctors found he had paranoid schizophrenia and believed he was being abused in prison.
The court heard he was having hallucinations and acted “in a state of desper- ation”.
Clarke, who is currently in Springfield Hospital in Glenburnie Road, London, was found to present a severe risk to the public.
Karl Williams, defending, said Clarke had a history of drug abuse.
Judge Michael Fitton QC found he was “not thinking clearly” at the time of the offending.
He made an order under Section 37 and Section 41 of the Mental Health Act for him to be detained for treatment.