Jail for trio of burglars who targeted vulnerable neighbour

David Mullen, his sister Lisa Mullen, and her boyfriend, Shawal Asif, were sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday (15) after stealing items from a home on Cavendish Road, Rotherham, on February 26.

The trio were living next door to their 52-year-old victim who had mobility problems and was living alone, prosecutor Mr Abdul Latif Shakoor said.

The victim heard a knock at his door, opened it, and saw David Mullen standing there.

David Mullen then walked to a taxi which was waiting outside and, shortly afterwards, Lisa Mullen pushed past the victim and walked upstairs, asking to use the toilet.

David Mullen and Asif then followed Lisa Mullen into the house, Mr Shakoor said.

The victim was confused by the intruders and shouted at them to get out.

The trio stole items worth £1,460 including a morse code teaching device, badges, watches and an ornamental dagger.

They made off in the taxi which was waiting outside.

The victim said in a statement read out in court: “I have worked all my life and these items they stole I collected over a number of years and had a lot of sentimental value.”

He said he was sick of people thinking they could get away with such things.

Lisa Mullen (33), and Asif (23), both of Cavendish Road, admitted burglary six weeks before they were due to stand trial.

Lisa, who has a long criminal record for offences including theft from a dwelling, was jailed for 20 months. 

Asif, who has 13 previous convictions for 25 offences, was jailed for two years.

David Mullen (34), of Lilian Street, Rotherham, changed his plea to guilty on the day he was due to stand trial.

He was jailed for three years and was given a one-month concurrent sentence for failing to surrender to bail.

Ms Lucy Hogarth, mitigating for Lisa Mullen, said her client felt responsible for involving the other two defendants.

Ms Joy Merriam, mitigating for David Mullen, said he was not the “prime mover” in this offence and only became involved because Lisa did not come out of the house while he was waiting in the taxi.

Mr James Gould, mitigating for Asif, said his client had struggled with mental health problems and drug misuse and had been in a “difficult position” at the time of the burglary.

Sentencing, Recorder James Baird said: “All three of you went in with the intention of stealing something and forcing your way past the unfortunate complainant.

“You all knew he was vulnerable and had restricted mobility.”