Menacing burglar who threatened woman in her Grimsby home jailed for five years
A MENACING burglar threatened a terrified woman and demanded cash before warning her he was a "lunatic" and had a knife, a court heard.
Robert Smalley, 39, of Neville Street, Cleethorpes, admitted three burglary offences and one of producing cannabis.
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JAIL TERM: Robert Smalley
Rod Woolliss, 21, of Highfield Avenue, Grimsby, admitted being involved in one of the burglaries.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Smalley burgled a 57-year-old woman's home on August 13.
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She heard a loud thump from downstairs at her home in Limetree Avenue, Grimsby, and spotted Smalley.
He was holding a laptop and a games console and warned her: "Get back upstairs."
She told him to get out, but he snarled: "Where's the money? I'm a lunatic. I have got a knife."
Smalley pushed her back and forcefully shoved her to the floor.
She shouted "help" several times and a witness spotted him in the hallway.
Smalley jumped over a hedge and fled into the grounds of the nearby hospital.
Police searched the area and arrested Smalley at his home.
He and Woolliss were involved in raiding Yearsley's Tower Distribution Centre, Grimsby, on December 27.
Smalley had previously worked there and Woolliss did so at the time of the offences.
In one raid, 161 cases of lager, valued at £3,220, were stolen but Smalley admitted burgling the premises on December 24 with intent to steal.
Smalley's home was searched and 20 cannabis plants, with a potential yield of £4,300, were found in a spare room on December 28.
Andrew Bailey, mitigating, said Smalley made admissions, pleaded guilty and regretted his behaviour.
Richard Hackfath, representing Woolliss, said he admitted what he had done and it was nearly a year since the burglary offence.
Smalley was jailed for five years.
Woolliss was given a six-month suspended prison sentence, a one-year supervision order and 200 hours' unpaid work.
Comments
by Nobby_Nutcase
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 1:33PM
“Yes, I will make a comment on a cowardly piece of dirt so if you don't like it find other reading resources. Also, the only sad person commenting is the person defending this pathetic moron.”
by vikti
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 1:21PM
“Yanman, we know enough to know that Robert Smalley illegally entered a house to steal someone else's belongings and that once inside this lady's house he pulled a knife and physically assaulted her. We also know that his sense of morality is such that he felt that he had the right to enter this lady's house in the first place. This all adds up to one sentence 'scum of the earth.' How would you feel if it was your mum, wife, sister or girlfriend threatened in her own home by this thug.”
by yanman
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 12:23PM
“Your all so innocent aren't you sat behind your computers . Making comments on people you no nothing of…you know nothing ….sad sad sad all of you”
by lildog
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 7:42AM
“So, 5 years? He'll be out in two, maybe earlier depending on how long he has been held already.
Make the punishment fit the crime and then let the time be served. Prison is a punishment, not a ticket to an easy wasted life. There is a lifetime after to teach the straight and narrow.”
by vikti
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 11:59PM
“Only 5 years? His victim will probably feel uncomfortable in her own home for the rest of her life. Talk about the punishment not fitting the crime. Scum like this should be taken off the streets permanently”
by kittycloe
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 5:30PM
“grims 45
our lads and lassies need far better support then the sweepings of the street ....thanks
stewart”
by grims45
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 4:40PM
“another piece of scum for the taxpayers to keep send him to afganistan”
by gloynboyz
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 3:33PM
“No other word has to be said SCUM”
by AfricanMeggy
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 2:43PM
“He is about as much use as a chocolate teapot!”
by THEAPPLE
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 12:57PM
“again,...book = cover.Why didnt the other idiot get prison”