A prolific burglar entered a property and stole Amazon parcels from inside, subduing a dog so that it did not raise the alarm to a pensioner who was sitting at home at the time.
Cardiff Crown Court heard Jonathan Davies entered the property at Llys Gwyn, Bridgend, on January 10, at a time when the victim, a 69-year-old woman, had been expecting an Amazon delivery between 6pm and 10pm.
Prosecution barrister Victoria Maud told the court how at 9pm she received a notification confirming the parcel had been delivered, and checked near her front door, but could not find it.
As she entered the hallway she noticed her dog in the hallway with a “chunk of ham in its mouth”, which she had cooked earlier and placed a saucepan lid over.
The court heard the dog was a small breed and it would not have been possible for them to reach the saucepan alone.
The pensioner further discovered her bus pass lying on the floor and her spare key missing.
Investigating further she found a discarded Amazon box with the items she had ordered missing and another Amazon box near benches.
Ring doorbell footage later captured Davies walking around the property, checking doors, with Amazon parcels in his arms.
The court heard he was later arrested and admitted the offence.
In a personal statement read out on her behalf the victim said: “The incident has had a tremendous effect on me – more than I ever thought was possible.
“It has stripped me of my safety and privacy. Someone has entered my house whilst I was inside and subdued my dog.
“I now struggle to sleep in the evenings, often laying awake for 36 hours. I jump at every sound and I’m scared to leave my house. I have had to lean on friends and family to help me feel safe doing everyday activities.”
She added that prior to the incident she was a “free spirit” but is now “constantly wary of people”.
She said each time she leaves her house she “feels unsafe and worries if her dog is safe”, adding that the incident had “flipped her world upside-down”.
Ms Maud told the court the victim had since moved home.
Davies, 40, of no fixed abode, appeared for sentencing via prison videolink having pleaded guilty to dwelling burglary.
The court heard he has four previous convictions for burglary offences.
Rodri Chudleigh, mitigating, told the court there had been no targeting or specific planning behind the burglary and the defendant did not know the victim.
He added the dad-of-three was “remorseful to the complainant” and said since being in custody Davies had sought help to improve his behaviour including completing the 12-step programme.
Sentencing Davies to 876 days in prison Recorder Barry Clarke told him: “This was an intrusion of someone’s home. A home is a place of safety and security and offences of this kind violate that security.”
