Burglar raided neighbour’s flat 26 times...
...when he KNEW he was in hospital
A HEARTLESS lowlife who burgled his neighbour 26 times while he was poorly in hospital has walked free from court.
Gary Howe brazenly broke into the pensioner’s home time and time again over a three-day period while he knew he was being treated by medics.
A court heard the former butcher emptied the flat of nearly all of the 67-year-old’s belongings, including pans, shelving, a TV, furniture, a microwave, speakers and a coin collection.
The repeated home invasions at the block of flats in Gateshead last October was caught on 90 minutes of CCTV footage, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
John Hobley, prosecuting, said Howe had even witnessed the “health episodes” which resulted in the victim, who lived on the same corridor as him, being hospitalised and so knew where he was.
Mr Hobley said: “The complainant had previously been burgled while he was in hospital previously and the flat was therefore somewhat insecure as the window had been boarded up rather than fully repaired.”
The court heard the first burglary by Howe happened around 8.30pm on October 15.
Mr Hobley said: “There are then a further 25 visits with Mr Howe entering 26 times between the evening of the 15th and the evening of the 17th.
“A large variety of goods were stolen – household items, a microwave, pans, a vacuum, speakers, furniture, shelving units and things of sentimental value, a coin collection and other items.”
Referring to a victim impact statement, Mr Hobley added: “He describes the emotional stress and anxiety, it’s added to his already acute medical problems.”
Police found a number of the victim’s belongings in Howe’s flat. He claimed he had permission to clear the flat but later pleaded guilty to burglary. The 40-year-old, who lives in Redheugh Court, where the break-ins happened, has 15 previous convictions but none for burglary.
He was sentenced to two years suspended for two years with a six-month curfew between 8pm and 7am. Recorder Toby Hedworth QC told him: “It was committed brazenly and it was committed repeatedly.
“It’s an extremely mean and heartless offence because the victim was a neighbour who you knew to have health difficulties, who you had previously called the emergency services for and you knew he was in hospital. “You virtually helped yourself to the entire contents of his flat.” The judge added that it was “extremely unusual” for someone to commit their first burglary at his age and said that meant he could suspend the prison sentence. Recorder Hedworth said: “It’s only the fact that you are a first time burglar that I’m prepared to give you this opportunity.”
David Comb, defending, said: “He will have been fully aware of the CCTV which captured him on various visits back and forward carrying boxes and TVs back into his own flat, where the property still was.
“His main problem is his addiction to heroin and he is now on a substantial amount of methadone. He was a butcher in the Grainger Market for about a dozen years. When his employer ceased to trade, things went down hill for him quite substantially.” The court heard Stewart Joab, 36, who also lived in the block, went with Howe four times on the final day. His sentencing hearing was postponed.
It was committed brazenly and repeatedly ... you knew he was in hospital Recorder Toby Hedworth QC