Shaggy-looking intruder skulked in the darkness of town home looking to steal
BURGLARY LEFT YOUNG WOMAN TERRIFIED
A YOUNG woman was left terrified after suddenly hearing her dog barking while she was in bed and later spotting a shadowy intruder lurking around downstairs.
She went to investigate and was shocked to see serial burglar Ashley Burnett skulking there in the darkness, Grimsby Crown Court heard.
He had been trying doors in the area and found hers unlocked because her father had been out to the pub for the evening and it had been left open for him. Burnett, 26, of Wellington Street, Grimsby, admitted burglary on May 27.
Stephen Robinson, prosecuting, said that the woman and her mother were in bed at about 10.45pm when she heard her dog barking.
The house in Scartho Road, Grimsby, was in darkness so she put her mobile phone flashlight on and went downstairs.
She saw a man - Burnett - at the bottom of the stairs and he was looking down at the floor, not saying anything.
After she screamed, he looked up and left the house.
“The scream also awoke her mother, who came out to investigate also,” said Mr Rob
(the victim) saw a man at
the bottom of the stairs and he was looking down at
the floor. After she screamed he looked up and left the house Stephen Robinson,
prosecuting
inson.
The daughter had seen Burnett hanging around earlier. The police were alerted and found Burnett nearby.
He admitted that he had been trying doors. The door of that house had been left open because the woman’s father had been out at the pub for the evening.
The daughter later said that she was very shocked.
“I was very frightened, not only this but I saw my mum scared too, which upset me.”
Burnett had two previous convictions for burglary in December 2018 and February 2019, when he was jailed for eight weeks for burglary at the home of his parents.
He had caused damage and stolen a pasty, which he microwaved and ate. Chris Brewin, mitigating, said that the late-night confrontation “must have been extremely alarming”.
Burnett had been suffering problems at the time.
Judge John Thackray QC told Burnett: “You clearly were intending that evening to burgle a domestic premises.
“The occupier was at home. She was disturbed. It was very frightening. Some people never recover from having their house burgled. They never feel quite the same in their own home. Burglaries are always serious.”
Burnett was jailed for two years and eight months.