Burglar stole a car, watch and children’s birth certificates

A BURGLAR broke into a family’s home in Cardiff while they were on holiday and stole their car, children’s birth certificates and a designer watch.

Daniel Stimpson, who first committed burglary when he was 15, was part of a gang who smashed through conservatory doors to ransack the house.

Rosamund Rutter, prosecuting at Cardiff Crown Court, said victim Andrew Knight returned home to Rhiwbina on June 1 with his family and saw a light on.

He discovered their Volkswagen Golf, worth more than £25,000, had been taken from the drive. Car keys were stolen, along with a Cartier watch valued at £2,500 and the children’s original birth certificates.

The court heard a Volkswagen Polo was caught on CCTV driving slowly past the house around 8.30pm. Prosecutors said a man was seen to ring the door bell, before nodding and walking back to the car.

About 15 minutes later, two men were spotted trying to force open a side door, while another was seen in gloves carrying a screwdriver. The stolen Golf and the Polo were later caught on camera driving in convoy past the University Hospital of Wales. Prosecutors said Stimpson sent a message saying: “I’m f***ed if they have me on CCTV.”

The stolen Golf was recovered in St Mellons a week later. Prosecutors said it was a write-off after being involved in a “high-speed crash”. That car was not returned to the owners and the watch and birth certificates were never recovered.

Stimpson was arrested on June 30 and replied to the police caution: “Burglary? What burglary? Are you mad?” He said he could not remember where he was on the night of the incident, but stated he had not committed a burglary. Prosecutors said he came before the courts when he was 15 for burglary and has multiple convictions for theft.

Stimpson, 23, of Thomas Street, Grangetown, Cardiff, initially denied burglary and theft, but later changed his pleas before his trial was due to start. The offences were committed in breach of a 12-month conditional discharge order imposed in July 2016 for fraud.

Judge Thomas Crowther QC found the offences were so serious only a prison sentence could be justified. Stimpson was jailed for two and a half years.