Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Burglar was ‘talked into’ raids
Exclusive
A prolific burglar who stole almost £3,000 cash and war medals from two pubs has told a court he was talked into carrying out the raids.
Stephen Baillie claimed he had become involved with the wrong crowd when he was promised “quick and easy money” for the break-ins at the Wheatsheaf Hungry Horse in Swalecliffe and the Aviator on the Isle of Sheppey.
The 26-year-old, described in court as a traveller from Canterbury, says he was told he could keep half of the money he stole.
Maidstone Crown Court heard how he targeted the Aviator in Queenborough on October 3 last year tealing £1,400 cash and war medals.
Prosecuting, Edward Connell said: “The landlord went upstairs and realised the safe was open. The keys had been hanging up in the office. CCTV showed the defendant leaving the premises just after 8pm when the pub was open, carrying money containers.”
Former landlord Philip Chislet was said to have been devastated by the raid.
“He was upset that the medals belonging to his father with sentimental value could not be replaced,” Mr Cornell said. “It left him feeling upset about the burglary and uneasy about the security of the pub.” Fifteen days later Baillie broke into the Hungry Horse in Herne Bay Road, fleeing with £1,435.
The landlord had been counting the takings but left the room momentarily, returning after hearing a window smash to see Baillie jumping onto the roof of a smoking hut before running off.
Defending, Sara Haroon said Baillie had started mixing with the “wrong types of people” at the time of the burglaries, which he admitted.
“Through me he apologises for his behaviour and he knows that the offences have caused upset to the owners of the properties,” she said. “He has been in custody since March 9 and he knows that is where he will remain.
“His punishment is lack of freedom, but I ask whether the inevitable prison sentence can be as short as possible.”
Judge Charles Macdonald QC said the crimes were “professional and planned”. He jailed Baillie for 28 months.