Burglar, 26, jailed
A burglar who raided the Newtown home of an elderly man as he slept on a bench outside has been jailed for more than 16 months.
Hayden Hadley, of Maes y Rhandir, Newtown, had previously admitted a sneak burglary at the home of George O'Neal in April.
At Mold Crown Court yesterday, Recorder Nic Parry, jailed Hadley, 26, for 10 months for the burglary and imposed a consecutive 26-week for being in breach of a suspended prison sentence.
"You have admitted a despicably mean offence and took advantage of an elderly person," said Recorder Parry.
"You knew he was old, you saw him asleep and by your actions have left him feeling shattered and vulnerable."
The court heard a non-custodial option had been considered, but funding had not been found for a rehabilitation programme.
Mr Simon Parry, for Hadley, said his client could not cope with delays in his sentence any longer. He had been desperate to try and break a drug addiction and his cycle of offending, but now wanted to be sentenced.
The court was told on an earlier occasion that Mr O'Neal's neighbours had seen two men leave the back of his home, carrying something. It emerged they had stolen a safe from his bedroom, containing a gold watch, five silver watches, a total of 14 medals, gold earrings, a ring, a hacking knife with a 10in blade, as well as a quantity of cigarettes.
A second man has been dealt with by magistrates for handling stolen goods.
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