Frightened couple hid in bed as two intruders raided flat

‘VULNERABLE’ WOMAN SENTENCED

A FRIGHTENED couple hid in their bed as a pair of burglars rummaged through their Nottingham flat.

A plastic wallet containing £80 was taken from the flat in Ash View, off Norton Street, Radford.

A woman who lives in the flat was “greatly affected” by the ordeal, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

Della Davies, one of the intruders, was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for 15 months and ordered to pay £20 in compensation.

The court was told the 36-year-old, diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychosis, was taken advantage of and used to help with the burglary.

A man described as the “lead offender” was given a suspended sentence at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court in February last year.

Raglan Ashton, prosecuting, said the flat’s occupants were alerted to the intruders just after midnight on January 19 last year. “Just after 12.30am they were woken by a light shining in from the bedroom door,” he said. “They realised it was an intruder in their flat.

“They remained in their bed in fear of being seen. They waited 10 minutes and got out of their bed.”

But by the time they entered the living room the intruders had left.

CCTV footage showed the defendant knocking on the door of a neighbouring flat, before trying the handle of the victim’s property. “She realised that flat was unlocked. It’s fair to say she was trying to gain access to another property,” said Mr Ashton. He said the footage showed Davies and a man both go into the flat. Davies was arrested the following morning.

Mr Ashton said the burglary had “greatly” affected the woman who lives there, adding: “She’s not been able to sleep without checking the front door four times and sometimes even more. It’s been hard for her.”

Mitigating, Clarkson Baptiste said: “[Davies] is a very vulnerable woman, She’s been the victim of bullying from elements of the community. They engaged her in criminal behaviour. The male was the lead offender.” He said the reason for the delay in the trial was due to Davies being in hospital due to problems with her mental health.

Recorder Stuart Sprawson said the burglary had “disturbed the occupants, causing fright, shock, worry and anxiety”. He added: “You are partly responsible for that. Whether you went inside or stayed outside that is the consequence.

“I’m told you are the subject of targeted bullying and are vulnerable. You’re engaging positively with mental health services and have been out of bother for some considerable time.”

Addressing the judge, Davies said: “I’m in Ilkeston now, I’m not in Nottingham any more so it’s a new start.”