Crook caught raiding shed

A crook found by the victim raiding his shed in the early hours had shaved his head and changed his clothes by the time police went to arrest him an hour later, a court heard.
The case was heard at Burnley Magistrates' CourtThe case was heard at Burnley Magistrates' Court
The case was heard at Burnley Magistrates' Court

Heroin user Stewart Entwistle (45) who had been caught on CCTV, was recognised by officers when they watched the footage.

He had stacked up items from the shed, which he had planned to sell, but had to leave empty-handed when he escaped by scaling a fence when discovered.

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Entwistle’s solicitor told Burnley magistrates the victim had told the defendant: “Leave it and I won’t call the police.” Entwistle had replied: “Thanks, mate,” and off he went.

Mr Mark Williams said: “Of course he called the police and the defendant was arrested a short time after.”

The defendant, who had successfully won a battle against drugs, had had a bad criminal record with serious offending, while he had been hooked.

He had been out of trouble between 2011 and last November, when he started using heroin again and got a conditional discharge for stealing toiletries worth £172 from Boots.

He was in breach of that sentence.

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Entwistle, of Hollingreave Road, Burnley, admitted burgling the shed on Woodhouse Court in the town, on March 5th.

The defendant, who is on employment support allowance, was given a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement and a four- week curfew, between 9pm and 7am. He must pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Mr Williams said: “This had happened because he started using drugs again. He has sought to self-refer, hopefully to get a prescription for subutex, a blocker, rather than a drug substitute.”

The solicitor added: “He is worried. He says he doesn’t want to go back to how he used to be.”