Five years for ‘coward’ thief after OAP raid
A ‘COWARDLY’ burglar who deliberately targeted the homes of pensioners has been jailed for more than five years.
Bradford Crown Court heard that one of Jan Rybar’s victims wished she could go to sleep and never wake up after being confronted in her bedroom.
Judge Robert Bartfield said the woman, in her 90s, and living in sheltered accommodation in Halifax, had been traumatised.
“She said she wishes she could go to sleep and never wake up,” the judge told Rybar.
Rybar stole £60 from the victim’s flat while she was powerless to stop him and the court heard it was the second time in a few weeks that he had targeted the same complex.
Judge Bartfield said Rybar had tricked his way into the premises by claiming to be visiting residents and when he was confronted by another resident’s son said he was “looking for a cat.”
Slovakian national Rybar, 39, of no fixed abode, admitted the more serious burglary involving the woman in her 90s and a jury found him guilty of the second allegation.
Jailing him for five years and three months Judge Bartfield said Rybar had deliberately targeted elderly victims.
“You’re a coward,” the judge told him, adding he was an “on-going menace to the elderly.”
Rybar was given a concurrent sentence of four years for the second burglary when he failed to steal anything.