Two burglars who raided the home of a 56-year-old man while his dead body lay on the living room floor were jailed on Thursday, August 13. Lincoln Crown Court heard that Jordan Sutherland, 29, climbed through an open window before passing a rucksack containing a number of items, including a jewellery box full of rings, to accomplice Cornelius Sleight, 31, who was waiting outside.
The burglary took place on Hemswell Avenue in Lincoln. The men were arrested at the scene on May 13, the court heard. It was later confirmed the 56-year-old man had already died from natural causes before the burglary took place.
Victim Impact Statements
Victim impact statements from members of the deceased man's family were read out in court. The daughter said: "Instead of being treated with dignity, he was just left there on the floor." His sister condemned the men's actions as showing a "monstrous lack of common decency", saying their behaviour had also led to a "social media circus." She said: "They walked into a home, bypassed a deceased man and chose greed."
Sentences Passed
As reported by the BBC, Sutherland was described by the judge as the "main player" and was sentenced to three years in prison. Sleight received a two-year sentence. Both men admitted to two counts of burglary and failing to surrender to custody. Sleight also pleaded guilty to 10 shoplifting offences, while the court heard Sutherland was a repeat burglar facing a "third strike".
Defence and Judge's Remarks
Tom Heath, representing Sutherland, told the court the offence had been opportunistic rather than an attack specifically aimed at targeting a vulnerable victim. Neil Sands, representing Sleight, said his client had played a lesser part because he did not enter the house. Passing sentence, Recorder Adrian Reynolds said both men at the very least, should have made an anonymous call or turned tail and run away. He said: "You did neither of those things. What you did, in effect, was to walk over his body and enrich yourselves."
