A repeat offender has appeared in court and admitted breaking into one West Cumbria home occupied by a couple with a prematurely born baby while also trying to burgle another belonging to a serving police officer.
John Martin Porter, 42, is facing a prison sentence of at least three years for committing night time crimes in the Seaton area, near Workington.
Porter appeared at Carlisle Crown Court this morning (mon).
During a short hearing he admitted two burglaries having entered buildings as a trespasser. One was a shed and the other was the family’s home. His loot, respectively, was a coat and walking stick, and also clothing and electrical equipment.
In addition, Porter also admitted a third charge of attempted burglary with intent to steal, that involving an officer’s address.
He further pleaded guilty to simple possession of two illegal drugs — class A crack cocaine and class B cannabis.
All of Porter’s crimes were committed on December 17 last year.
Judge Nicholas Barker adjourned the case and opted not to order a probation service pre-sentence report. That would, he said, be a “futile” exercise given the defendant’s criminal record and in view of the fact that he flouted a suspended prison sentence by committing the latest offences.
Brendan Burke, defending, said Porter, of Jackson Road, Workington, had sought to advance mitigation in light of serious physical and mental ailments. These, Mr Burke said of a claim by the defendant, had “formed the backdrop to the current offending”.
Porter is a “three-striker” meaning he now falls to be punished under official sentencing guidelines for at least a third qualifying domestic burglary offence to a term of three years’ imprisonment or more.
He is due to be sentenced by Judge Barker at the crown court on January 27, and in the meantime will remain remanded in custody.
