Thief stole computer after throwing a brick through a window

2:08pm Saturday 1st December 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Neil Hunter

A COMPUTER thief could not understand why he was charged with burglary because he had not set foot in the house he raided, a court heard.

Darren Crozier hurled a brick through a window and reached in to steal the lap-top and hard-drive from the property in Middlesbrough in June.

Crozier faced a minimum three-year prison sentence because he has two previous convictions for burglary, Teesside Crown Court was told.

But the judge, Recorder William Lowe, QC, accepted there were “unusual features” to to case and jailed the 24-year-old for 18 months.

Robert Mochrie, mitigating, told the court: “He didn't appreciate he was committing a burglary at the time.

“It was not the case where he actually entered the property as one would ordinarily expect. He broke the window and it was his hand that went in.”

Crozier, of Harford Street, Middlesbrough, admitted burglary but Mr Mochrie said he was in the grip of a drink and crack cocaine problem.

Mr Recorder Lowe said: “It is a burglary in law and I understand you might see it somewhat differently.”

Comments(8)

Kinninvie says...
3:38pm Sat 1 Dec 12

So if he had reached in with a fishing rod the judge would have let him off because no part of his body was in the house.
Bl++dy ridiculous.

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Bambooflyrod says...
4:33pm Sat 1 Dec 12

No, if he used a fishing rod in the commission of the offence to remove property from within the premises, then it is still Burglary.

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lilboysmammy says...
2:16am Sun 2 Dec 12

so is his arm not part of his body???
he gets jailed for 18 months, he will only serve 9, will be fed, watered, have no worries and will be able to get crack easier than he can on the streets....

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Mr A says...
7:13am Sun 2 Dec 12

He’s a thief albeit a thick thief and we are better off that this thick thief is in jail.

Sorted.

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moltke says...
7:56am Sun 2 Dec 12

But he's not gone to prison for nearly long enough, that's the point!

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oliviaden6 says...
9:25am Sun 2 Dec 12

The Laws and sentenceing in this country are a absolute joke. WHEN will we the general public get our rights back, when will we get justice for all. It is about time the government told THE EU to take a running jump along with the UMAN RIGHTS, The People of England have had enough of interfering from Europe.
GET US OUT OF EUROPE BEFORE EUROPE SKINTS US.

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vercingetorix says...
10:35am Sun 2 Dec 12

lets do something unusual here...lets use a bit of common sense.......the fact is this ...he got a reduced sentence ....a lesser punishment ...on a technicality ....an interpretation of words not an interpretation of the crime. Have you EVER heard anything so ridiculous in a court of law in all your life ....I am 58 and I hav'nt ....???

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Colcat says...
12:39pm Sun 2 Dec 12

Ignorance of the Law is no excuse. Neither is sheer stupidity.

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