Pair burgled home – and stole a door

NEARBY FLAT WAS BEING REFURBISHED AT THE TIME

TWO hapless burglars were caught in the act of stealing a door from one of their neighbouring flats.

Kirk Dagleish and Alex Warwick had sneaked into an unoccupied property in Todds Nook, off Westgate Road, in Newcastle, which was in the process of being refurbished and first helped themselves to tiles and paint.

But, it was when they returned to steal an internal door that they were caught red-handed by police, prosecutors said.

A court was told that the pair were burgling a vacant Your Homes Newcastle flat, a neighbouring property to Dagleish’s.

And when officers searched the 21-year-old’s home, they also found the stolen tiles and paint.

Now, both men have been fined after they each admitted one count of burglary of a non-dwelling at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutor, Lorna Rimell, said the flat in question was in the process of being refurbished and, as a result, had a number of tins of paint, tiles and doors inside.

Police were called to the block of flats on October 17 this year after reports of an altercation in the communal area.

Miss Rimell added: “Officers see both defendants together carrying one of those doors out of the flat.

“They then find in Mr Dagleish’s property a number of tins of paint and tiles.”

The court was told that Dagleish was also found to be carrying £90worth of cannabis, an offence he also admitted during the same hearing.

In interview, Dagleish said he had been involved in an altercation in the communal area and had been pushed through the door of the flat, which had been unlocked. Adrian Ions, defending Dagleish, said: “This was an act of crass stupidity or horseplay gone too far.”

The solicitor said Dagleish had been drunk and decided to use the stolen goods to refurbish his own home, which was also local authority-owned. Michael Gibson, defending Warwick, 21, of Essex Close, Newcastle, said: “He thought he was helping a friend move a door.

“When he’s stepped foot into the flat he’s realised it’s dark and has no carpets and he realises it isn’t right but he has to accept stepping foot inside and, therefore, trespassing.” The court heard that Dagleish had no past convictions, while Warwick had one.

Both men were fined £120 and ordered to pay £42.50 costs and a £32 victim surcharge each. Dagleish was also given a six-month conditional discharge for possessing the cannabis.

Officers see both defendants together carrying one of those doors out of the flat

Lorna Rimell, prosecuting