Thieving builder spared jail after stealing £6k
‘TRUSTED TRADESMAN’ GRABBED SAFE FROM COUPLE CONTAINING SAVINGS FOR A STAIRLIFT
A BRAZEN builder stole £6,000 from a family home after being trusted to carry out repair work.
Desmond McKay, 42, knew that Stephen Lelonek had left his home in Moston, and his wife Janet suffers from serious health issues which means she finds it difficult to climb the stairs.
McKay had arranged to come to their home to fix a light, but turned up early and made an excuse so he was able to steal a safe containing £6,000, which was in a cupboard upstairs.
The money was being set aside to pay for a stairlift to make Mrs Lelonek’s life easier.
Manchester Crown Court heard that McKay, who the couple also regarded as a ‘friend,’ has not paid the money back.
He was spared jail and ordered to hand back the £6,000, paying £150 a month.
Judge Michael Leeming said jailing married father-of-five McKay would have a serious harmful effect on others, and that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
Mr and Mrs Lelonek, both in their 60s, bravely stood up in court and confronted McKay to tell him how his crime had affected their lives.
Mrs Lelonek said her health has deteriorated, while her husband said that the ordeal spoilt the enjoyment of their daughter’s wedding, telling how he felt ‘physically sick’ while walking her down the aisle.
Neil Usher, prosecuting, told how the Leloneks had known McKay since 2015, and regarded him as a ‘trusted tradesman.’
He had completed work to their roof and windows before with no problem, and other neighbours had spoken positively of him.
In November 2018 Mr Lelonek, a driving instructor, bumped into McKay at a chemist when he was purchasing medicine for his wife.
They chatted and spoke about Mrs Lelonek’s health, and Mr Lelonek mentioned that a light McKay had fitted was faulty.
McKay said he would come round and have a look at it, and shortly afterwards accompanied Mr Lelonek to his home. When they arrived, Mr Lelonek also spoke with McKay about an issue with the boiler, which was located in an airing cupboard where the safe was also stored.
McKay agreed to come back the following day, November 2, to complete the work. Mr Lelonek told McKay that he wouldn’t be back home until 6pm.
So Mrs Lelonek was surprised to see McKay arrive at about 3pm.
He told her that he needed to borrow a screwdriver to complete the work, and Mrs Lelonek told him they were kept upstairs.
McKay then went upstairs and stole the safe, before taking it to his car.
When Mr Lelonek returned and his wife informed him that McKay had already been to the house, he checked the cupboard and saw the safe was gone.
Mr Lelonek drove to McKay’s house to confront him, but he wasn’t there.
He then called McKay, who later returned to their house where he denied having anything to do with the theft.
More than two weeks later, McKay was arrested.
CCTV footage collected from neighbours showed that McKay had been driving around waiting for Mr Lelonek to leave the house, and showed him putting the safe in his car. Defending, Rachel Faux said McKay apologises to the couple and their wider family for his ‘selfish’ behaviour.
The court heard that at the time McKay was £18,000 in debt, which he has since paid off. If McKay went to prison it would lead to ‘inevitable suffering’ to his family and they could lose their home, Ms Faux said.
Judge Michael Leeming agreed to spare McKay jail, but warned him that if he appeared before him again then he would be sent down.
The judge told McKay: “This was a mean offence on any view, committed quite deliberately with obvious planning on your part.
“They never thought for a moment that you would later return and steal from them in the way that you did.”
McKay, of Parkleigh Drive, New Moston, pleaded guilty to one count of theft.
He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and must also complete 250 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
This was a mean offence committed quite deliberately with obvious planning
Judge Michael Leeming