A drunk burglar who broke into a stranger’s home and ransacked it was found by police in an upstairs bedroom eating biscuits.
Scott William Donkin said his sister used to live in the property in Peterlee, County Durham and he was unaware she had moved.
The 30-year-old had been released from prison just two days earlier, when he used a brick to smash through the back door on December 19 last year.
Durham Crown Court was told police arrived to find a drunk Donkin upstairs eating biscuits while surrounded by wrappers.
The woman living at the property had been at work when she was told an intruder had broken in. She returned and was horrified to see her home was in a state of chaos, with ‘mess and destruction’ everywhere.
The TV set had been toppled over, the controller smashed, family photos in frames broken and lying on the floor, cupboards open having been searched and biscuit wrappers and crumbs strewn about.
The woman said she was relieved she had not been at home at the time of the break-in and told police she hoped the perpetrator was sent to prison as she had been left a nervous wreck.
Donkin, of Peterlee, said he became very drunk that day and admitted breaking into the property and causing the mess inside.
He pleaded guilty to burglary.
Sam Faulks, prosecuting, told the court Donkin had, ‘a myriad of previous offending’, with a past record of 24 convictions for 98 offences, including burglaries and several thefts.
His most recent convictions were for six shoplifting offences and possessing cannabis, for which he served a few weeks in prison.
Mr Faulks added: ‘It’s quite obvious it’s fairly endemic in this man’s character to steal and to take other people’s property.’
Tony Davis, representing Donkin, said: ‘It was only two days or so after his release from prison and he was in a drunken stupor.
‘The house had (previously) belonged to his sister and he remains a problem to the rest of his family.
‘He offers his profound apologies to the victim and hopes she realises it was not a deliberate targeting exercise.
‘He has a history of homelessness and sofa-surfing when he’s back into drug misuse.’
Donkin briefly addressed Judge Nathan Adams, and said: ‘I do apologise for all this. I do regret it.’
Judge Adams told him: ‘You have an appalling criminal record.
‘You are a prolific shoplifter with other offending of non-dwelling burglary in 2020 and, since then, a dwelling burglary.
‘You also have a poor compliance with court orders and you were only released from your most recent shoplifting sentence shortly before this.
‘You said you thought it was your sister’s house. That makes no difference whatsoever.’
Passing a 20-month prison sentence, Judge Adams told Donkin: ‘The sentences are only going to get longer and longer.’
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