Burglar gets jail term for crimes
Man was reported by his grandma
A BURGLAR is behind bars after his grandmother reported him to the police.
Matthew Herron went to live with his gran after been kicked out of his mother’s home for being caught with a knife in the Metrocentre last year.
But the woman soon became suspicious of the 22-year-old when he randomly returned home one morning with a bike and she later discovered other incriminating evidence in her bin, a court was told.
She made the courageous decision to report her grandson to the police and it soon became apparent he was responsible for a burglary and a number of attempted burglaries in Gateshead.
Andrew Finlay, prosecuting at Newcastle Crown Court, said Herron had been on a suspended sentence for having the knife in the Metrocentre at the time of the offences in September last year.
“The burglary took place on Stirling Lane at around 3am on September 25, 2021,” Mr Finlay continued.
“It’s an unsophisticated offence where the defendant threw a brick through a window at the back of the property and reached through the window to unlock the door.
“He stole a box of cash and a TV, worth £500 in total, and some keys. None of those goods were recovered.”
The court heard Herron was captured on CCTV at the property, which was unoccupied at the time. However, just three days later and again in the early hours
of the morning, Herron attempted to strike again, this time targeting two homes on Stewardsfield and South Sherburn.
Mr Finlay added: “The defendant approached the first property and tried the door. The door was locked.
“The defendant noticed there was a CCTV camera and pulled the camera down and threw it. The camera was unharmed but the wall mount fixing was broken.”
Minutes later, Herron was captured on CCTV trying the door of a second property, which was occupied, but gave up after realising it was locked. However, he went on to steal a mountain bike from the garden of another house nearby.
The court was told that Herron had been living with his grandmother since being kicked out by his mum and she soon became suspicious of him when he returned home with the bike.
Mr Finlay said: “On September 30, she asked the defendant to clean his room. He discarded a large bag of rubbish in the wheelie bin.
“She sorted through the bag to separate it into general waste and recycling and a number of suspicious items were recovered. She took the difficult but commendable decision to report her suspicions to the police.”
In statements, the two female victims of the attempted breakins said they had been left feeling scared and unsafe in their own homes.
Herron, of South Shuerburn, in Rowlands Gill, was arrested and pleaded guilty to burglary of a dwelling, two counts of attempted burglary and theft. He also admitted breaching his suspended sentence.
Steven Reed, defending, said Herron only had the one conviction for the possession of the knife and had otherwise led a law-abiding life.
The court was told Herron could offer no explanation as to why he had suddenly started offending but had received a shock while being on remand in prison and wanted to get his life “back on track”.
Jailing him for 22 months, Judge Sarah Mallett said: “You had intended to join the Army and had been in employment. Up until this turn in the road, your future looked promising.
“I hope you will re-find that road when you’re released from custody and you will take proper control back of your life.”