TWO “amateurish” burglars who raided a woman’s flat in Stafford were rounded up by police, a judge heard.
Jonathan Thirlway and Russell New- man were spotted by a neighbour and the caretaker of the block in Sandyford Court.
Officers arrested Thirlway, who had cut his leg on the broken window used to get in, on the car park outside the flats. New- man, who lived next door, was also net- ted.
All the property they stole from the home of Michaela Lee, including CDs and personal possessions, were recovered, said Paul Farrow, prosecuting.
Thirlway, aged 32, of Lloyd Street, Stafford was jailed for eight months, but Newman, aged 44, of The Russetts, Stafford, had his eight-month sentence suspended for two years.
Stafford Crown Court heard that Thirl- way had a total of 23 previous convic-
tions, while Newman had not been in trouble since 2005.
Judge Paul Glenn told them: “The vic- tim was someone you knew and regarded you as friends - she lived next door to you, Newman.
“This was plainly premeditated and a mean offence, the intention was to sell the items you stole. You used a hammer and a screwdriver [to get in].”
Mr Farrow said the burglary took place during the afternoon of November 30 after Ms Lee had gone out and left the flat secure.
Her bedroom window had been smashed and both defendants were seen running down the side of the block.
Chris Clark, defending, said: “Both men don’t seek to apportion blame - Thirlway going in and Newman keeping look-out. The property was all recovered. The exe- cution of the enterprise was quite ama- teurish.”
