Burglar stole cash from disabled neighbour’s home
A burglar who stole cash from the home of a disabled neighbour has walked free from court.
Benjamin Armstrong sneaked into his victim’s home when he was kept waiting at the door for her to fetch £10 she had kindly agreed to lend him.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the woman knew the 31-year-old roofer only as someone she would “see in passing” and “would wave at her” but agreed to help him out when he turned up without warning.
It was only after he left that the victim, who uses a wheelchair, realised £230 in cash she kept at her home to pay for her carers was gone.
Armstrong, now of Flodden Road, Sunderland, denied burglary, but was convicted by magistrates after a trial.
His victim attended court to bravely read out her victim impact statement in person.
The woman, who was in her wheelchair, told the court: “I am always watching out of the window, worried he will come back.”
The court heard Armstrong, who has a partner and children, no longer lives in the victim’s street.
Tony Cornberg, defending, said Armstrong described his own offending as a “stupid, horrible thing to do”.
Mr Recorder Chris Smith sentenced Armstrong to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 150 hours unpaid work, rehabilitation requirements and an order to pay his victim £240 compensation.
The judge made a restraining order to keep Armstrong away from the woman for life.