James Dean, 45, of Stanley Road in Birkenhead, was found hiding beneath a hedge in a garden wearing socks on his hands after burgling St Peter's Catholic Primary School in Noctorum, Wirral. He told police he 'didn't give a f***' when informed he had stolen from pupils and called teachers 'grasses'.
Details of the burglary
Merseyside Police were called to the school shortly before midnight on May 24 after a teacher living opposite was alerted by security alarms. Officers found Dean with the school's CCTV hard drive and two cash boxes beside him, along with £652.16 in cash. He confessed: 'I'm nicked. I done it.'
Dean had kicked the main door with such force that its frame became dislodged, requiring over £7,000 in replacement. Internal fire doors suffered £1,500 damage, and the CCTV system cost around £1,000 to replace.
Previous offences and sentencing
Dean had 59 previous convictions for 127 offences, including more than a dozen burglaries. He was sentenced to three years for a pub break-in in 2019 and four years for robbery in 2022.
He also admitted to an earlier spree on April 5, targeting Sylvan Home Care Services, Gossip Coffee and Wine Bar, and Voltage bar on Allport Lane in Bromborough, causing over £4,000 damage.
Defending, Chris Macmaster told Liverpool Crown Court that Dean has diagnoses of depression, anxiety and ADHD, with a history of psychotic symptoms including auditory hallucinations. He said Dean has become institutionalised after substantial periods in custody and struggles upon release.
Judge Katherine Pierpoint noted that Dean had family members who attended the school and hoped he was 'thoroughly ashamed'. She sentenced him to two years and eight months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and asked for three further offences to be taken into account.
