Drug addict burglar gets last chance to beat his addiction

Burnley Crown Court heard how Jamie Woolerton, who had committed almost 20 burglaries in his life of crime, was found on the ground by police, surrounded by a group of people and bruised.

Woolerton, who has also served time behind bars for supplying hard drugs and had been on remand for 126 days, was given what a judge described as his final chance to put himself straight.

The defendant (34), of Pine Street, Nelson, had admitted two burglaries on June 8th. He was given an 18-month community order, with 18 months supervision and a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

Sentencing, Judge Andrew Woolman told Woolerton, who had 14 previous convictions for burglary, he had at first thought he would have no alternative but to impose a long prison sentence but he had been extremely impressed by the efforts the defendant had made to tackle his habit in the last four months while he had been in custody.

The judge said he was giving the defendant the only chance he would get to deal with his drug taking in the community.

Mr David Macro (prosecuting) said Woolerton raided his next door neighbour’s home. The victim was five months pregnant and lived there with her three-year-old son and her partner.

She had been working from home, went out for 40 minutes and when she returned found her laptop was missing in a £2,000 haul. A rear window was open.

Mr Macro said, later, a man arrived in the street saying he had come to buy a laptop off someone called Jamie. All the property was recovered from the defendant’s home.

Woolerton also struck in Towneley Street, Burnley, and stole two watches and a chain. The property was recovered. The defendant was arrested at 8 p,m. after being detained on the street by a friend of the victim of the first burglary. He was taken to hospital for treatment and when questioned admitted both offences.

Mr Martin Hackett, for Woolerton, said: “I accept that at first blush the court may well view this defendant as a bit of a hopeless case and as a man who requires a further period in custody.”

Mr Hackett said while the defendant had a record as a regular burglar, his last was nine years ago. He was genuinely remorseful and was almost angry about his actions. He had never before been given a drugs programme in the community and wanted to be given an opportunity to work with the probation service. The barrister added the defendant wished to wean himself off heroin. Mr Hackett added: “It’s now or never.”