A BURGLAR caught in the act as he broke into a Kendal town centre home has been jailed.
David Anthony Stephen Frater, 51, was armed with a crowbar as he attacked three properties at Yard 44, Stramongate, on the evening of May 15.
Upstairs neighbours alerted to noises from below initially challenged Frater as he tried to enter one property. As police were called, Frater was captured on a ring door view CCTV camera as he used the tool to smash a glass panel, one witness watching as he reached inside and grabbed an internet router.
Officers attended swiftly and found Frater to be intoxicated, slurring his words and unsteady on his feet. In interview, he spoke of taking the synthetic drug spice before committing the offences, conceding: “It’s me. I’m bang to rights. I wasn’t compos mentis at the time.”
Frater, of Highgate, Kendal, admitted burglary and two burglary with intent to steal charges. He was jailed for 14 months at Carlisle Crown Court today (TUES) when his barrister described a “hopeless drug addict” who had taken a “cocktail of drugs” before committing the crimes.
Although the burgled property was unoccupied at the time, the owner revealed his mother and five-year-old nephew had been inside hours earlier. “He expresses anxiety and concern as to what would have happened had they been there at the time,” said prosecutor Gerard Rogerson.
“He says the burglary has affected himself and his family in a number of ways, causing extreme worry, especially to his mother. She is normally an exceptionally confident woman but it has badly shaken her.”
Passing sentence, Judge Nicholas Barker told Frater: “You had with you a crowbar. You were determined in your actions.”
