Burglar gets suspend prison sentence after breaking into ex's home

A burglar has been given a suspended prison sentence after he broke into his former girlfriend's home.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.Chesterfield magistrates' court.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Thursday, May 18, John Haystead, 50, of High Street, Clay Cross, burgled his ex’s home on Thanet Street, Clay Cross, and stole dog food and he was also caught with cannabis following his arrest.

Prosecuting solicitor Sam Matkin told a previous hearing the burglary charge also originally related to Haystead allegedly stealing a stereo and jewellery but it was later established the stereo had been removed by the complainant’s son and the jewellery had been advertised on an internet selling site and neither had been stolen.

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Kevin Tomlinson, defending, said: “He has admitted the burglary and possessing cannabis. Initially he was charged with going into the property and stealing a stereo and jewellery.

“Representations were provided to the Crown Prosecution Service during the time while we were waiting for a Newton Hearing to establish what was stolen and the prosecution now accepts the defendant’s basis of plea.

“The stereo had been removed by the complainant’s son and she remembered that and evidence has since been shown of the jewellery on an internet selling site.”

Mr Tomlinson added that Haystead, who has previous convictions, has not been in trouble for three-and-half years and the latest offences were linked to the breakdown of a relationship rather than a new pattern of offending.

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Haystead, who has been remanded in custody since April 19, pleaded guilty to burgling the Thanet Street property and purely stealing dog food on April 16 and pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis while he was at the police station on April 17.

He also admitted damaging a window at the Thanet Street property on April 15.

The court heard how the defendant is currently receiving Job Seekers Allowance benefits but is planning to set himself up as a window cleaner.

Magistrates sentenced Haystead to 16 weeks of custody suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Haystead was also given a one-year restraining order not to contact his former partner.