A burglar who disturbed a sleeping Carlisle couple as he broke into their flat in the dead of night has been jailed for 21 months.
The city’s crown court heard today how the two victims were in bed at the London Road property at around 4.30am on February 3.
The woman became of noises before her partner woke as 24-year-old Connor Daniel Challinor entered their bedroom.
Challinor was stood in the doorway as the man turned on a light, and swiftly left.
“He was frightened,” said prosecutor Kim Whittlestone of the male householder. “He was worried there may be more than one person. He was worried they may have weapons.”
Challinor left with loot which included jewellery, jewellery boxes and an Amazon fire stick. He was captured on CCTV footage seen after the incident by a police officer who recognised hom having dealt with him in the past for a similar matter. He was wearing a distinctive jacket and rucksack.
After burgling the flat, Challinor went to his ex-partner’s home with the rucksack and a carrier bag. She noted he was “under the influence” of something. As she refused him entry, he punched a window and was hurt.
“The police arrived and found the defendant in the area, bleeding from his hand injury, and also he was found to be in possession of a number of items that had been taken during the course of the burglary,” said Miss Whittlestone.
In court today, he admitted offences of burglary and criminal damage. His guilty pleas put him in breach of a suspended prison sentence he received last January for crimes which included head-butting a pregnant woman.
The court heard how at the time of the burglary, Challinor — formerly of Reeth Road, Carlisle — was in a phase of crisis, battling long-standing mental health problems and dealing with separation from his family and children.
Judge Nicholas Barker imposed a 21-month prison sentence, concluding that the break-in would have been deeply disturbing, distressing and frightening for the victims.
