A burglar from Newcastle who targeted the home of a woman who had been moved into care twice in the space of a year has been jailed.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that Paul Docherty of Stratford Grove West broke into a Newcastle flat in March, taking a television and a charm bracelet. Then, on October 1, he was spotted gaining entry to the same property, this time taking a television set.
A member of the public called the police and Docherty was subsequently identified as the suspect and arrested. Under interview, the offender admitted both burglaries.
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He had forced a window to gain entry on both occasions and said he sold the television and charm bracelet from the March burglary to feed his drug addiction.
The 37-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and on Friday (November 25) at Newcastle Crown Court he was jailed for a total of 16 months.
Detective Constable Chris Sample, of Northumbria Police, said: “We know the impact that burglary incidents can have on their victims and we will always do our utmost to bring those responsible to justice.
“Paul Docherty has shamelessly targeted the home of a vulnerable person and taken their possessions without a thought for their or their family’s wellbeing. We hope that by securing a conviction and a prison sentence against him, it provides the victim and their family with a degree of closure.
“We would also like to thank the quick-thinking member of the public who noticed Docherty leaving the scene of the second burglary and notified us.
“This provided vital information in being able to track down the defendant and put him before the courts.
“We would always encourage anyone who sees anything they believe to be suspicious to get in touch as soon as possible. Through this we can continue to work together to ensure our region remains as safe as it possibly can be.”
During the darker nights, we know thieves will be looking for opportunities to target homes and cars, so officers are also asking the public to ensure their property is secure and that valuables are kept out of sight.
Anybody who sees anything suspicious in their area is asked to report it by using the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the Northumbria Police website or by calling 101. In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always ring 999.
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