A "thoroughly dishonest" man took advantage of a man in a mobility scooter by befriending him and burgling the home he shared with his grandmother. The thief was seen leaving the house by an acquaintance as the victim fell asleep outside on his scooter.
Samuel Price, 25, broke into the house in Merthyr Tydfil and stole £350 in cash, £153 in Tesco vouchers, and women's jewellery on September 30 last year. The victim's grandmother was working a nightshift when her grandson was seen on CCTV being pushed by the defendant to their homes.
A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court was told the victim has a terminal kidney condition which requires dialysis. His grandmother became aware something was wrong when her grandson failed to make his dialysis appointment. She contacted a neighbour who took her grandson to his appointment but upon returning home she realised the house had been burgled.
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The jewellery taken in the theft included two gold chains and two watches as well as the cash and vouchers. The neighbour later said the front door and a bathroom window had been left open and the victim was asleep in bed.
At 4am a dog walker saw the victim asleep in his mobility scooter outside the house but was unable to rouse him. He then saw Price climbing over a fence and recognised him. The defendant panicked and asked the witness where he could buy some weed but after he left the police were called. They recovered CCTV which showed Price and the victim heading towards the house.
Price, of no fixed abode, was arrested but refused to be interviewed. He later pleaded guilty to burglary and theft. The court heard he had a number of offences for thefts from shops but this was his first conviction for burglary.
In a victim personal statement read out to the court the victim's grandmother said: "It makes me sick Samuel Price has taken advantage of my grandson's vulnerabilities to steal from us. It might not seem like much to most people but what he has taken from me has taken months and months to save up and it was going to pay for our Christmas." She said she now feels on edge, has spent money on security measures, and has retired from work.
In mitigation Price spoke on his own behalf having refused representation. He said: "He wanted me to go in the house and open the door. I was on Valium and pregab. I pleaded guilty to something I didn't do. He said to me to climb through the window and open the front door. I must have fallen asleep for half an hour – I was off of my top and didn't know what I was doing. I take full blame for it but I didn't burgle, I hate burglars."
Sentencing, Recorder Greg Bull KC said: "You targeted a vulnerable man who you knew had difficulty. You are a thoroughly dishonest person." He sentenced Price to a total of 20 months imprisonment.
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