Burglar found hiding in loft insulation

ABUNGLING burglar who was caught redhanded in a broad daylight raid was found unconscious hiding in loft insulation.

Jonathan Craig Edwards broke into a house on July 29 this year, smashing a window to gain entry.

The hapless thief was seen by a neighbour jumping over the garden fence and attempting to duck out of sight of passing motorists.

The neighbour called the police, who quickly swooped on the address in Abergele and trapped Edwards in the home.

Edwards, 40, who had cut his hand while breaking the window, attempted to hide in the loft insulation of the house – with little success. He was quickly found thanks to a police dog and the trail of blood left throughout the home.

Fire crews were called to free Edwards, of South Parade, Pensarn, who had fallen unconscious due to blood loss.

Jade Tufail, prosecuting, said homeowner Amanda Diego left her house at approximately 1.40pm. When she returned she found her family home had become a crime scene, with police, fire crews and an ambulance outside.

In a victim impact statement read to the court Ms Diego said she had “nightmares” about the break-in and was haunted by the idea of the thief in her children’s play area.

The family had to move out while the blood-stained carpets were replaced. She added: “I was afraid the next time it happened I might be in the home.”

Recorder Gaynor Lloyd, sitting at Mold Crown Court last Friday, said the theft was exacerbated by the fact Edwards was the subject of a community order and on police bail at the time.

Judge Lloyd sentenced him to 14 months behind bars for the break-in, as well as another 10 months for a separate theft in March, when Edwards snuck into his neighbours house and stole an Xbox and tablet computer.

The judge rejected defending barrister Andrew Downey’s submission the offences were linked and said the prison sentences for each theft would be served consecutively – meaning Edwards will serve a two year stretch.

Welcoming the sentence, Detective Constable Andrew Pendleton said: “Burglary is an invasive offence which can have a significant impact on the householder. Those who break into a person’s home can expect to serve time behind bars as is evi- denced by the sentence that has been handed to Edwards.”

DC Pendleton added: “I’d like to commend the quick thinking actions of the neighbour who alerted us to the incident.

“Her actions resulted in the swift arrest of Edwards who was found inside the property by officers.”