A burglar who broke into the West Cumbria home of a couple with a prematurely born baby – on a night when he also tried to illegally enter another property belonging to a serving police officer – has been handed a lengthy prison sentence.
John Martin Porter, 42, committed crimes in the Seaton area, near Workington, between 4am and 6am on December 17 last year.
During a previous hearing at Carlisle Crown Court, Porter admitted two burglaries having entered buildings as a trespasser. One was a shed from which he took a coat and walking stick. A second was the home of a family who were inside their address from as he snatched items of clothing and electrical equipment including a games console.
In addition, Porter had also admitted a third charge of attempted burglary with intent to steal. This crime occurred at the home of the police officer, who had been alerted to suspicious activity at around 5am on that morning by her dogs barking. She checked CCTV and Porter was seen to try a door to the address in a bid to gain entry before leaving the area.
He further pleaded guilty to simple possession of two illegal drugs — class A crack cocaine and class B cannabis.
Porter, of Jackson Road, Workington, was sentenced at the crown court today.
A prosecutor said he was a man with more than 100 previous offences on his record, including almost 50 for theft and other dishonesty. By committed the December house burglaries, he had triggered a three-year minimum mandatory prison sentence requirement for repeat offending.
Judge Nicholas Barker, who handed down the latest punishment, was told by a lawyer representing Porter that serious physical and mental ailments had formed a backdrop to his offending.
Judge Barker jailed Porter for a total of 40 months.
