A North East bricklayer who broke into the home of a partially-sighted woman living alone has been jailed for two years and eight months. Alan Harrison targeted the property of his friend's grandmother, a woman who had previously given him money.
Burglary in South Bank
The 62-year-old victim was jolted awake by a loud bang just before 5am on 10 August, Teesside Crown Court was told. Harrison, 21, had smashed through the kitchen window of her property on Shepherdson Court in South Bank before climbing inside.
When the woman, who had dozed off on her sofa, entered the kitchen and confronted Harrison, he snatched £90 in cash and some cigarettes before clambering back out through the window, prosecutor Elisha Marsay told the court.
Once outside, Harrison opened his jacket to reveal his arm to the victim and requested a bandage. "The victim could not see an injury but she did see a knife in Harrison's waistband," Ms Marsay said.
Arrest and guilty plea
Harrison, of Ash Grove in South Bank, was arrested at 7pm that evening. The woman identified him to police, and he was further linked to the crime by fingerprints discovered on her window, reports Teesside Live.
Harrison subsequently pleaded guilty to burglary and possession of a bladed article. He was already serving a suspended prison sentence at the time of the break-in, having previously threatened someone with a blade.
In a statement, the victim said: "I think Alan thinks he can take advantage of me because I am vulnerable. I am partially-sighted and have had a stroke. If something isn't done about him, he will continue to burgle me and cause me misery."
Mitigation and sentencing
Harrison's solicitor, Michele Turner, informed the court that her client turned to drugs after his "uncle was shot - murdered". She said: "It had a profound affect on Mr Harrison."
Harrison had been working alongside his father and uncle on their farm, Ms Turner explained. A qualified bricklayer by trade, he had struggled to secure employment and turned to drugs following his uncle's death. "He's not sure whether it is repercussions from his uncle's death, or bad feeling from the drugs fraternity, but he received threats and started carrying a knife."
Judge Mark McKone told Harrison that he would activate a portion of the 12 months of his suspended sentence, to acknowledge the fact that he had completed unpaid work as part of that court order. "The victim of your burglary had given you money before, so that makes this especially mean," the judge told Harrison, who attended via video link from HMP Holme House. "You are good friends with the victim's grandson. I accept you've got some personal mitigation."
Sentencing Harrison to two years and eight months in jail, the judge warned him: "If you were to break into a house again, you should expect a much longer sentence next time."
