A Tyneside burglar who broke into a family's retirement flat and changed the locks has been sentenced after attempting to claim squatters' rights.
Stephen Nott, 61, gained access to a flat in North Shields that was used as a retirement holiday home by a family, after wrongly believing it was abandoned. When a family member arrived to check on the property, they found the locks had been changed and Nott inside.
Hostile takeover
Nott, who has a previous conviction for a child sex offence, aggressively confronted the family member and said he was carrying out a "hostile takeover". The court heard that through a "misguided understanding of the law", Nott believed he owned the property through the principle of "adverse possession", commonly known as squatters' rights.
He was arrested by police and charged with burglary, to which he pleaded guilty. On Friday, Nott, now of Brandling Court, North Shields, appeared at Newcastle Moot Hall to be sentenced.
Locks changed
The court heard that a family owned a flat at Chirton Dene Quays, which had been bought and was used as a retirement property. The owners did not reside there but would regularly visit.
On October 1 last year, the son of the couple who owned the flat checked on the property and found everything in order. However, on a check on December 27, he found the locks had been changed and someone was inside.
Laura Peto, prosecuting, said: "The locks had been changed and the defendant made himself known. He presented himself in a threatening manner and was shouting he was going to complete a hostile takeover. He believed the defendant was squaring up to him."
Adverse possession claim
When arrested, Nott told police: "It's not burglary, it's adverse possession". Miss Peto said he claimed it was his property and that he had only lived there two days and had invited others to the address.
The court heard that before Nott was found at the flat, he had sent emails to the family expressing interest in the property, saying he believed it was abandoned and wanted to move in following a divorce. Miss Peto told the court the family believed he was trying to "manipulate the situation" after the death of one of the owners.
Victim impact and sentence
In a victim statement, the flat owner's son said the property had been a "great source of happiness" for his parents, who had both been born in the town. He said: "They would return to the North East to spend time in a place that holds personal significance." The statement added that the family now intends to sell the property.
The court heard Nott had 30 previous convictions for 69 offences, 16 of which were for burglary. Miss Peto said he had also received a three-month community order for a charge of sexual activity with a child.
Christopher Knox, defending, said: "He did do what he regarded as a lot of inquiry on the internet. He acquired a certain amount of learning, which I had to put him right about."
The court heard Nott, who claims £3,000 a month on Universal Credit, became homeless following a divorce and was living in a tent for a time at Royal Quays. He has since moved back in with his wife and child.
Sentencing Nott, Recorder Richard Stubbs said he had a "misguided understanding of the law" and handed him a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. A two-year restraining order was also imposed, and he must pay £800 costs.
