Lockdown burglars looted Hartlepool woman's home - even stealing her fridge and microwave

Darren Kinsella and Edward Hanley were both at risk of being jailed for three years under the ‘three strike’ house burglary law when they entered the terraced house in Dent Street, Hartlepool, at night on April 15.

The occupant had gone out for the first time in weeks, said Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court.

But between 8.30pm and 10.45pm Kinsella, 36, and 20-year-old Lewis Miller were seen on CCTV going in and out.

They took three television sets, a fridge, microwave oven, clothing, and an ornament of a dolphin.

Hanley was also caught on camera going inside for a few minutes after Kinsella and Miller and took a DVD player.

Mr Soppitt said: “[The occupant] returned about 10.45pm where she saw and identified Kinsella going in and out of the property.

"Items were stacked outside. The police attended very shortly thereafter.

"When they arrived Kinsella was just outside and Miller was inside the property.”

Hanley, 46, was arrested just days later after being recognised from the CCTV by the police.

He told them he had heard about the burglary and went in and stole the DVD player.

In a victim impact statement the occupant, who has since moved, said the burglary had left her shaken and felt targeted.

She added it would be hard to recover from financially.

The three men all pleaded guilty to burglary on the day they were due to stand trial.

Barrister Paul Cleasby, mitigating for Kinsella, of Dent Street, said the occupant was out at the time but admitted jail was inevitable and asked the judge to keep the sentence as short as possible.

Martin Scarborough, representing Hanley, of Elliott Street, Hartlepool, said his intrusion was limited.

Stephen Constantine, defending Miller, of Stockton Road, Hartlepool, said he commits crime while on drugs but is determined to change as he is expecting his first child.

Judge Jonathan Carroll said burglary strikes at a person’s sense of safety that can have “a profound and significant emotional impact”.

Kinsella and Hanley were both jailed for two years and 255 days, while Miller, whose record was not as bad, got 12 months and two weeks.

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