Burglar who broke into Beccles home of woman, 72, while she was in hospital is jailed

A burglar who broke into the home of a 72-year-old Suffolk woman while she was in hospital having a hip replacement operation has been jailed for 40 months.

The woman returned to her home in Grove Road, Beccles at 7 pm on October 30 with her son and discovered a paving slab had been used to smash a dining room window, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

A number of items, including an antique camera and photo slides which had belonged to her late husband, were stolen during the burglary.

“The impact on her was considerable,” said John Farmer, prosecuting.

Before the court was James Patrick, 34, who is currently in Peterborough prison, who admitted burglary at the house in Grove Road.

He also admitted burglary at another house in the same street between October 27 and October 29 and a burglary at another property in Ravensmere East, Beccles on October 10 last year.

He also asked for an offence of burglary with intent to steal at an unoccupied house in Beccles to be considered.

Jailing Patrick, Judge Martyn Levett said he had three previous convictions for house burglaries.

Mr Farmer said during the burglary at the house in Ravensmere East “irreplaceable”jewellery belonging to the recently deceased mother of one of the occupants was stolen by Patrick.

He said the owners of one of the burgled houses in Grove Road had been on holiday when Patrick broke into their home and they came home early when they were told what had happened.

Mr Farmer said a stolen ornament was used to smash doors at the house causing £1,150 damage.

Property worth £3,500, including a mountain bike, jewellery, watches and an iPad tablet, was stolen during the break-in, said Mr Farmer.

Peter Spary for Patrick said his client was released from a 39-month sentence for robbery in March last year.

He had been living in Lowestoft, but moved to Beccles because he was being bullied.

“He needed money to move away,” said Mr Spary.

He said some of the items stolen during the burglaries, including the antique camera, were recovered.