Mum and three children left terrified by drug-crazed burglar

A HOUSE burglar on a '˜two-day bender' was so drunk and high on drugs he thought he was on a building site.

Dale Colley has been jailed after squeezing through an open window at a home in Horsea Road, Hilsea, and stealing an NHS badge, £250 Mothercare voucher, driving licence and other items.

Colley of Derby Road, North End, rifled through coats in the hallway before the householder, a mother-of-three, shouted out in terror.

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The 37-year-old, who was said at Portsmouth Crown Court to be on a bender, made off with a debit card.

Tom Wright, prosecuting, said Colley left a fingerprint and was soon arrested.

He told police he had no memory of the incident but then admitted to it.

‘He had, as he put it, been on a two-day bender on drink and drugs,’ Mr Wright said.

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The court heard he had previous convictions for burglary, meaning he was subject to a three-year minimum sentence, less credit for pleading guilty to the burglary committed on September 5.

Recorder Anne Arnold jailed the crack cocaine addict for 876 days – 127 weeks.

The judge said: ‘Principally it was a night-time burglary committed when the householder and her three children were at home.

‘Indeed, she was disturbed and put in considerable fear asking for the assistance of a neighbour to check if anyone was still in the premises.’

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Reading from the victim’s statement, the prosecutor told the court: ‘Since the incident I have been concerned and scared.’

Sam Barker, mitigating, said Colley was doing well on remand at HMP Lewes and stayed out of troubles at the jail, earning a job there.

Mr Barker added: ‘Some solace can be taken by the victim of this – it wasn’t targeted at all, the front window was left slightly open.

‘Mr Colley actually thought the property was abandoned, that nobody was in and actually thought it was a building site – he was seeking power tools.’

Mr Barker said Colley had sincere remorse and shame that he had relapsed after being clean from drugs.