A 21-year-old burglar, who ransacked two homes in the Culmore Road area while the occupants were on holiday, has been sentenced to six months in prison.
Described in Derry Magistrate’s Court as an “opportunistic burglar” Alan Whelan, Drumard Park, caused hundreds of pounds in damage to the two homes he “ransacked” during his break in spree.
Whelan strongly denied ransacking the homes on the 20th O
ctober and the 18th July last year and claimed that he was acting as a “lookout” and only entered the premises to tell his partner in crime that he was making “too much noise.”
The court heard that Whelan and his accomplice made off with a HP laptop, Samsung digital camera and a mobile phone from one of the homes.
Whelan’s solicitor said that his client had been released on bail and, after failing to turn up for a court hearing on the 1st November, he was arrested and remanded in custody.
He said that Whelan had experienced his “first pangs” of custody after he lost his nerve and failed to turn up in court to face theft and burglary charges.
“These were opportunistic burglars, nobody was home at the time, which at least spared the household the fear of having someone in their house while they were in bed,” he said.
In sentencing District Judge Barney McElholm said: “Both houses you entered were ransacked and property stolen. You have showed no respect for the people who own these properties.”
Mr. McElholm sentenced Whelan to a total of six months in prison.
The full article contains 266 words and appears in Journal Friday DER Edition newspaper.
