Sneak thief targeted OAPs’ homes

A BURGLAR crept around pensioners’ properties at night before using one OAP’s bank card at McDonald’s, a court heard.

Cory Davison, 24, appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced for seven offences that took place between June 30 and July 5.

He pleaded guilty to three house burglaries, two frauds, theft, and taking a vehicle without consent.

One of the incidents took place at a semi-detached house in his hometown of Stockton on June 30, which saw Davison sneak around the house of a 62-year-old woman as she slept.

Prosecutor Emma Atkinson said: “She was awoken around 5am and noticed that the kitchen had been ransacked. The patio doors had been accidently left unlocked and were now wide open.

“She went to check on her purse in the kitchen but it was no longer there. She checked her bank and saw an unauthorised transaction of £12.05.”

In a victim impact statement the woman described being left ‘shaken’ and said it was a ‘frightening thought knowing someone had been in the house’.

The court heard she was due to go away in her caravan that day but could not as did not know if the defendant would come back.

A week later, he targeted a property in Norton. A 76-year-old homeowner woke up at 7am and noticed the window in his bathroom was open and items had been moved.

Ms Atkinson said: “A number of items had been stolen including his laptop, some collector edition £2 coins, £100, his wallet and two mobile phones. He looked outside and his Volvo Estate was also not there. The car was recovered and the defendant’s fingerprints found at the scene.

He targeted another 76-year-old man who was awoken to a text message on July 5 saying there had been suspicious activity on his bank account. His wallet had been taken from his trousers, which lay on a chest of drawers in his home.

The court heard he left his door open to circulate air into the house and Davison gained entry. When the victim checked his bank account he found there had been three transactions for a service station and McDonald’s.

In mitigation, the court heard the defendant pleaded guilty to the offences at the first opportunity and has had a ‘difficult few years’ turning to drugs.

Davison apologised in court through his solicitor.

Judge Howard Crowson sentenced the defendant, of Talbot Street, to three years in prison.