A burglar high on spice and Valium broke into the home of an elderly and vulnerable neighbour, a court has heard.
Donny Lyons took the 77-year-old's medication, tablet computer, fishing rod, and a watch which was of particular sentimental value.
Swansea Crown Court heard Lyons knew his victim as his uncle works for the pensioner as a handyman and sending him to prison the judge described the burglary as a "mean" offence.
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Stephen Rees, prosecuting, said on the evening of April 30 this year a pensioner living in Brynsiriol, Llanelli, went to his local pub. Later that night 34-year-old Lyons was caught on CCTV looking over the fence of the pensioner's house, calling out the name of the victim's dog, and going into the garden of the property. The defendant then left the scene only to return a short time later wearing a face covering and gloves at which point he forced entry through a window.
The court heard when the victim, who has limited mobility, returned home and did not initially realise he had been burgled. It was only the following morning that he noticed personal items including a Samsung tablet, medication, a fishing rod, and a watch of sentimental value were missing. Police were contacted and the burglar identified through CCTV footage.
In an impact statement from the pensioner which was read to the court he said the burglary had left him feeling frightened to be alone and he was now "living on my nerves". He added that he was thankful he had his dog for company.
Lyons, of Brynsiriol, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire , admitted burglary and criminal damage. The court heard he has a "lengthy history" of offending starting when he was a juvenile with offences including matters of dishonesty, violence, possession of drugs, criminal damage, and house burglaries on his record.
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Ian Ibrahim, for Lyons, said on the day in question the defendant had been under the influence of Valium and spice – a drug habit on which he was spending between £25 to £35 a day. He said Lyons had been misusing Valium since his teens and had been taking spice for the last decade having been introduced to the drug in prison
Judge Geraint Walters descried the burglary as a "mean" offence and, giving Lyons a 20% discount for his guilty pleas, sentenced him to 876 days in prison which is the mandatory minimum sentence for a third-strike repeat burglar.
