Burglar raided priest’s home
ABURGLAR raided a priest’s home while he slept before stealing his car.
Michael Cheetham, 43, of Rochdale, was one of three men involved in the despicable crime, taking a Peugeot 5008 from outside Father Simon Firth’s home, Minshull Street Crown Court heard on Thursday (March 14).
Prosecuting, Satpal Roth said Fr Firth was asleep at the presbytery of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, on Kingsway, when the crooks struck after 11pm last August 29. Ms Roth described how two of the men ‘circled’ the car before approaching the presbytery.
They entered the priest’s home and took the keys to the Peugeot, before stealing the car. Cheetham then drove the car away despite being disqualified from driving, the court heard.
Ms Roth told the court how Fr Firth had been left to feel ‘uneasy’ and ‘vulnerable’ following the incident. Around 24 hours after the burglary, at 11.30pm on August 30, Cheetham returned to Kingsway.
He burgled the Westway Nissan showroom ‘directly opposite the church’, taking a computer and monitor. Cheetham previously pleaded guilty to both burglary offences; taking a vehicle without consent; and driving while disqualified.
He was also sentenced on Thursday for possession of a meat cleaver on Oldham Road, Rochdale, having previously been found guilty.
Ms Roth said police discovered Cheetham carrying the knife, which was covered by a black sock, last June 16.
Cheetham has 33 previous convictions for 64 offences, dating from 1995 to 2018, including 19 thefts. Defending, Rachel White said her client had been ‘unsuccessful’ in crime, having committed his offences ‘in plain sight’.
She said he ‘realises he is getting too old for it’. “He has had a difficult life,” said Ms White.
“He has leant on alcohol and drugs at times. He has suffered a number of losses which have impacted significantly upon him.”
She added: “The court can be optimistic about this defendant. He has shown in the past an ability to stay out of trouble.”
Cheetham, of Merefield Avenue, Rochdale, was sentenced to three years and two months.
He was disqualified from driving for two years and seven months, including a year following his release from custody. Her Honour Judge Joanne Woodward said Cheetham was a ‘prolific offender’, and that the sentence was the shortest possible one she could impose.
“It’s said that you are at a turning point in your life and I hope that is the case,” she told Cheetham.
“It’s said you have made good use of your time and you are motivated, on your release, to make changes.
“That said, the author of the pre-sentence report could not identify much in the way of genuine remorse and continues to view you as presenting a risk of serious harm to members of the public.”
A second defendant,
Conor Sykes, was due to appear in court alongside Cheetham, but did not attend. The 26-year-old, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to burglary of a dwelling; theft; being carried in a motor vehicle that was taken without consent; and two counts of fraud by false representation.
He is due to be sentenced on March 21.