Telford raider jailed for break-in while couple register birth
A 31-year-old man from Telford has been jailed for more than two years for stealing £2,000 worth of goods from a house while the owners registered the birth of their child.
Christopher Booth, of Willowfield in Woodside, took a rucksack, a laptop, a games console, cash and a jewellery box before the owners of the house in King Street in Dawley returned home for the first time after the birth of their child, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard yesterday.
Booth was spotted by the couple on their return and chased and caught.
Booth admitted a charge of burglary at an earlier hearing.
Mr Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said: "They went with their child to register his birth. When they returned they noticed the back door was broken and items had been removed.
"When she (the mother) went into the lounge she saw a man and shouted to her partner for help."
Mr Jones said the male chased Booth and eventually caught up with him.
Mr Jones said: "He apologised and said he was being paid by a third party."
Miss Sarah Buckingham, for Booth, said her client was ashamed of himself.
Judge Peter Barrie sentenced Booth to two years and five months in prison, saying: "You were caught red handed."
