Two thieves were caught stealing from a family home by the landlord, who asked them to “take out their pockets”.
Andrew Baywater, 33, and Michael Clayden, 30, robbed a house in Siam in the early hours of May 6 and stole a bicycle, a piggy bank, a handbag and cigarettes. But the duo were caught after the owner of the house woke up and saw them in the courtyard and chased them.
Baywater and Claydon appeared in Durham court on Monday to be convicted of burglary. Both men pleaded guilty to one charge in court.
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Prosecutor Liam O’Brien said the couple robbed the family home in Hawthorne Square around 12:30 a.m. while the family’s father slept on the couch. He said: “He was awakened by the noise of the kitchen and noticed that the courtyard doors were wide open. He looked outside and saw both defendants leaving the yard on his bicycle. He shouted at the defendants, who panicked and dropped the bicycle and the piggy bank that was in the kitchen. “
The owner then chased the thieves and soon caught Baywater. Mr O’Brien said: “He met with Baywater, who responded to a request to take out his pockets and return cigarettes, £ 15 in cash and a mobile phone that had been stolen. The man then went out to look for Clayden.”
Michael Clayden, 30, was sentenced to three years in prison for burglary (Image: Durham Police)
When Claydon was captured, he was “non-cooperating” and a “brief physical altercation” involving “pushing and pushing” ensued – he then escaped, but was later arrested by police. Mr O’Brien said some of the stolen property had not been recovered and some items were later found hidden in a piece of abandoned furniture lying nearby. Some items that were never found include a £ 200 iPhone, a handbag with bank cards, £ 65 in cash and patio keys, the court said.
The court was told that both men had numerous previous convictions, with Claydon being a thief on a third strike.
Mark Stiles, defending Claydon, said he had “drug problems” and “fought for a while.” He said: “He is trying to point out that it was spontaneously offensive and apologizes a lot.” He added that the confrontation involving Clayden took place “some distance” from the family home, which had been looted.
Andrew Baywater, 33, has been in prison for 27 months (Image: Durham Police)
Defender of Baywater, Andrew Turton, said he “voluntarily returned the items as soon as he was up.” He said: “He voluntarily handed over the property to the host and there are no previous crimes of burglary. At the time, he was using street drugs to try to deal with mental health problems that were irritated by the loss of a close brother in 2021. As a result of that loss, his mental health took a downward spiral. ”
Mr Turton added that “there is no plan to commit burglary” and “apologizes for his impulsiveness”. He said Baywater’s mental health continued to be affected after his brain was “weakened by oxygen” after a drug overdose.
Condemning the couple, Judge James Adkin, the Durham record holder, imprisoned Claydon, of Chelmsford Street, Darlington, for three years. Baywater of Alvin, Washington, was in prison for 27 months.
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