BURGLAR COLLAPSED AFTER HOME RAID
‘INTOXICATED’ THIEF WAS FOUND LYING ON PAVEMENT WITH LOOT
An “intoxicated” burglar who was found unconscious outside a house he had just raided has been jailed for three-and-a-half years. Darren McGowan was lying on the pavement in Sunderland not far from a house he had just ransacked.
An “intoxicated” burglar who was found unconscious outside a house he had just raided has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.
Darren McGowan was lying on the pavement in Sunderland in the early hours of September 3, not far from a house he had just ransacked.
Newcastle Crown Court heard when emergency services arrived at the scene, they found jewellery stuffed in McGowan’s pockets and a pillowcase filled with items lying beside the 38-year-old.
Investigations revealed the high-value belongings had come from a house, which McGowan had “ransacked” while the owners were on holiday.
McGowan, of Bridge Street North, Sunderland, who was also carrying a Stanley knife, pliers and Kinder eggs containing cocaine and amphetamine, admitted burglary, possessing bladed articles and possessing drugs.
The court heard he has a long criminal record of convictions for previous house raids and disorder and weapons, including a firearm. Judge Tim Gittins told him: “The burglary was a serious one because you ransacked the premises, you undoubtedly searched every room, pulling out drawers and searching carefully through wardrobes.”
The court heard McGowan had a key from the patio door at the property in his pocket and police found the owners’ belongings packed into bags and boxes, which may have suggested he had intended to go back.
Judge Gittins told him: “Even in your intoxicated state you had made plans to return.”
The court heard the husband and wife who lived at the house had gone on holiday a few days before the break-in. The wife, who read her own victim impact statement in court, said: “We received an email to say we had been burgled six days in and we had a week to go.
“We felt helpless and alarmed, there was nothing we could do.”
The court heard all of the stolen property, except an antique salt cellar, was recovered and returned to the owners.
Christopher McKee, defending, said McGowan had relapsed into drug use after a relationship breakdown but had been making attempts to detox.