Burglar tried to force his way into a family’s home
hospital treatment and was seen fiddling with the front of his trousers. As a result, forty-plus blue tablets were found.
“He was interviewed at Southwick police station and said that he had taken alcohol and Valium. He thought that it was his friend’s house.”
Tom Morgan, defending, said: “This is as close to an attempted burglary as one could see in a magistrates’ court.
“The crown says that the door was open by about six inches. The part of him in would have been his hand or fingers.
“At most I think that his hand would have been in the curtilage of the property.
“Mr Riddell does have a background of criminal behaviour. He’s a man with mental health issues.
“He doesn’t drink and is not a regular user of drugs, but on this occasion, he accepts that he has been at an all-time low.
“He’s drank a significant amount of vodka and has taken some drugs to try to deal with the pain. This has been the outcome.”
In a victim impact statement, the owner said his children had been present and described the incident as “terrifying”.
Riddell pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal and possession of controlled Class C drug diazepam.
John Lee, chairman of the bench, told him: “Although the occupier was at home, there was limited intrusion into the property. We take this as an impulsive action on your part.
“However, when you committed this offence you were on licence from prison.”
There was no separate penalty for the drugs offence, but Riddell must pay a £128 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.
The court heard he had been released from prison on May 29 and would be recalled until March 3, 2022.