'I hope he pays for what he has done' - Prolific burglar 'violated' Shropshire family by breaking into their home during the night and stealing their £32,000 car

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Shrewsbury Crown Court was told how Ali, who has a shocking criminal record for his age which includes 46 offences with eight burglaries, four robberies and seven vehicle thefts, went to Castle Close in Burford, near Tenbury Wells on August 27 this year.

The family living at the address he targeted went to bed at about 10pm, and just over five hours later, Ali and his accomplices struck.

CCTV showed three men in the area at 3.09am, with one of them carrying a hammer.

When the family woke up in the morning, they discovered their 74-plate Volkswagen Passat worth £32,000 had been stolen. A laptop was on the floor outside and cupboards were left open downstairs. The court was also told a Volkswagen Tiguan was missing. Ali was charged with stealing the keys in the burglary, but not for the theft of the Tiguan. It was not said what happened to that car.

There were £600 worth of belongings in the Passat which had also gone.

Police investigated and found Ali’s DNA on the door handle at the home. The burglars had broken in through a set of French doors.

The stolen Passat was tracked in Droitwich, Stourport, Kidderminster and Quinton, Birmingham, where Ali lived at the time.

Ali was witnessed driving the vehicle by police and was arrested on November 5.

"I want them to pay for what they have done."

A victim impact statement was read in court from the mother of the family.

She said: “I have struggled ever since the burglary and have not slept all night since.

“I’m too scared to go downstairs at night. Every day I relive what happened.

“I have felt emotional and tearful, and have lost interest in things. 

“I feel completely violated at the thought of them helping themselves to our things.

“I want them to pay for what they have done to our family.”

Ali, of no fixed abode but previously of Quinton, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of a motor vehicle.

Paul Smith, mitigating, said his experience of Ali is that he is “a bright lad”, and “personable”.

He added that Ali’s mother died of cancer when he was last in prison, and that he was unable to go and see her before she died or attend the funeral. 

He said Ali’s partner is pregnant with his child and that he plans on doing a business course at university when he is released from jail.

The court was told that Ali had written a letter to the court which included a powerful apology.

"It's an invasion. She felt violated and sick."

As Judge Trevor Meegan mentioned the value of the Passat in his sentencing remarks, Ali shook his head.

“I know you’re shaking your head but that’s the assessment of the valuation that was given to the court,” the judge said.

“I’m afraid your demeanor is not supporting what you said in your letter. I take that demeanor into account in deciding this sentence.

“A burglary is not just an attack on someone’s house or property. It’s an invasion on somebody’s home where, quite rightly, they should be able to feel safe and secure.

“She (the victim) says she felt violated and sick.”

The judge sentenced Ali to three years and four months in prison and banned him from driving for six years and eight months.

It is expected he will serve no more than 40 per cent of the custodial sentence behind bars before being released on licence.