Burglar was found asleep on sofa with Easter eggs
A PROLIFIC burglar was found at seven o’clock in the morning sleeping on his victim’s sofa surrounded by half-eaten Easter eggs.
Dozy David Potham remained sound asleep until police officers arrived at the house and woke him from his slumber.
The defendant – who had recently moved from Cardiff in a bid to make a “fresh start” – had a pair of his victim’s socks on his hands, stolen earrings in his trouser pocket, and a rucksack full of the family’s possession including children’s passports and a laptop.
The court heard the two young girls who live in the house were “terrorised” by the experience of having an intruder in their home, and have been left worried that he will return.
The defendant, whose address was given in court as Lincoln Court, Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, has more than 140 previous offences on his record including 23 burglaries, but his barrister told the court his client wants to change his life.
James Hartson, prosecuting, told the court that on the night of May 24 this year a family living in Port Tennant, Swansea, locked up their house and went to bed as usual. He said at around 7am the following day the male victim woke up and went downstairs to find the front and back doors were open.
“He then found an unknown male sleeping on the sofa in the living room with half-eaten Easter eggs and clothes scattered around.
“The court heard when the victim looked closely he saw the sleeping man was wearing a pair of his socks on his hands.
The two young girls of the household were told to stay upstairs, and the police were called.
The burglar – later identified as 40-year-old Potham – was woken up by officers when they arrived, saying to them: “I don’t understand”.
A rucksack belonging to the defendant was found on the floor and inside was jewellery, a laptop and charges, a purse, children’s passports, and an empty box which had contained an engagement ring – the ring itself was missing and has never been found.
When Potham was searched a pair of earrings were found in his trouser pocket.
Swansea Crown Court heard it is not known how or when the defendant gained entry to the property but that subsequent checks of CCTV footage from the area showed him on
Crymlyn Street at 3.40am. In his interview Potham said he could not remember much of what happened on the night due to his use of drink and drugs.
He said he could not recall putting the family’s property in his rucksack, and had “no idea” why he was wearing a pair of socks on his hand.
In victim impact statements which were read to the court it was heard that the two young girls of the family have been “terrorised” by the experience of having an intruder in their home, were worried he would return, and preferred to sleep at friends’ or relatives’ houses rather than at their own. The younger child now refuses to go to bed alone. The girls’ mum said her mental health had already been in a “delicate state” before the burglary, and she now feels “overwhelmed” and frightened in her own home.
David Michael Potham had previously pleaded guilty to burglary when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has 56 previous convictions for 142 offences including 12 house burglaries and 11 non-dwelling burglaries. On three previous occasions he has been sentenced to the minimum 876-day sentence as a repeat burglar – in 2012, in 2018, and in 2020. The 2018 offending was committed with his partner, a doctor whose life had spiralled out of control.
Tom Roberts, for Potham, said the defendant had relocated to Swansea from Cardiff shortly before the incident in part to make a “fresh start” but had found, in his clients own words, that “there are drugs everywhere”.
He said following his move to Swansea Potham had relapsed back into the use of Valium but wished to break the cycle of drugs, offending and custody he was involved in, and would accept any help that was available.
Judge Geraint Walters said Potham had forced his way into into his victims’ home in the early hours of the morning while under the influence of substances and, contrary to what the defendant had told the police, had known exactly why he had a pair of socks on his hand as he was a prolific burglar.
He said the impact on the victims – especially the children – was clear, and given Potham’s record of offending it was not a case which fell within the usual sentencing guidelines.
With a one-quarter discount for his guilty plea Potham was sentenced to four years in prison. He will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.