Burglar caught red-handed has jail term reduced

Simon Paul Welsh (31), of Monkwood Road, Rawmarsh, was locked up for 30 months at Lincoln Crown Court in September after admitting burglary.

Welsh was with a female accomplice when he broke into his victim’s home in Skegness the previous month.

But he made the mistake of returning to the scene later on to look for more loot — by which time police had been alerted by neighbours.

They had escorted the householder back to her home, where they discovered Welsh still searching the property and stealing jewellery.

“An untidy search had been made in the bedroom, but it had not been ransacked,” Mr Justice William Davis told London’s Appeal Court.

“He (Welsh) apologised to the occupier, who was angry about the burglary, which she made clear to him.”

Welsh, a heroin user, challenged his sentence, claiming it was far too harsh.

His legal team said the impact on the victim was given too much weight by the judge who jailed him.

“We consider there is force in that argument,” said Mr Justice Davis.

“The occupier arrived back home with the police — she did not have the terrible upset of finding a burglar in her house while alone.

“The evidence is that she was angry at finding a burglar in the house, rather than being distressed.”

Welsh’s sentence was cut from 30 months to 20 months.