Hartlepool burglar jailed after phone tracing app led police to his front door

Sean Marshall, 41, stole a mobile phone and charger after creeping into his victim’s home in Tempest Road, Hartlepool, at 5.40am on August 22, after prowling the streets looking for targets.

But he was quickly caught after the owner used the Find My Phone app to remotely trace the phone and lead the police straight to Marshall’s front door.

Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court that the male householder was awoken by the sound of Marshall while he slept downstairs due to the summer heat and his partner and two young children were asleep upstairs.

Upon seeing the householder Marshall tried to flee over a locked gate when the victim grabbed at Marshall’s jacket.

There was a short chase but the victim gave up when he lost sight of Marshall.

A backpack belonging to his partner containing a wallet, keys and sunglasses was found abandoned in the back garden.

Worryingly, Marshall had also taken a knife out of a kitchen drawer and left it to hand.

Mr Soppitt said: “Using the Find My Phone app the victim was able to track his phone to [an address in] Dobson Place in Hartlepool.

“The police attended shortly thereafter. The defendant’s father answered the door and indicated his son was upstairs having arrived shortly before the police arrived.”

In an impact statement the victim said: “My young children and partner have been left terrified in their own home and are scared that someone is going to come back and hurt them.”

Marshall, who was on licence from a five-year jail sentence at the time, pleaded guilty to burglary.

Ian Mullarkey, defending, said in mitigation that after making good progress Marshall had relapsed into taking drugs after the sudden death of his sister.

Mr Mullarkey said: “The defendant very much regrets that relapse.”

Jailing Marshall for three years Judge Jonathan Carroll said: “The real significance of burglary is it’s a crime against people; about their sense of wellbeing and safety in their own home, and when that’s broken it can cause profound concerns and worries to a family.”

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