Drunken burglar who broke into Northamptonshire accommodation for elderly '˜to find somewhere to sleep' jailed

A drunk man who broke into a block of flats for elderly people in Northamptonshire and then stole food has been sentenced to nine months in jail.
Northampton Crown CourtNorthampton Crown Court
Northampton Crown Court

Jamie Whiting, aged 22, managed to get through a locked door of a communal area of McKinlay Court in Kettering at 3.40am on November 22 last year.

Northampton Crown Court heard Whiting opened the door of a flat belonging to an elderly lady.

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Caroline Bray, prosecuting, said the woman called out and Whiting then left the flat.

However, Whiting stole a cheque as well as some biscuits that had been left in the communal area.

He was arrested after a resident found him asleep in the building.

Ms Bray read out a victim impact statement which revealed the elderly woman now felt “nervous and frightened” in accommodation she had previously felt very secure in.

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William Falshaw, mitigating, said his client, who lives in Ealing, London, had been on night out in Kettering and did not have anywhere to stay.

Mr Falshaw said Whiting, who pleaded guilty to burglary, had been very drunk and thought McKinlay Court was a commercial building.

His Honour Judge Fowler sentenced Whiting to 33 weeks in custody plus another three weeks for failing to attend court for a previous hearing.

He is likely to serve half his sentence in jail before being released on licence.