A man who attempted to burgle a home was caught by the occupier before he awkwardly told her he wanted a glass of water. Serial criminal Gareth Jones had been out in the early hours of September 6 attempting to burgle homes in Cwmbran before he finished his series of crimes at a property in the Newport Road area on the morning of September 7.
The occupier had the bifold doors open at the rear of her property when she realised Jones, 44, was scrambling over her back wall. He then approached the property by walking nonchalantly towards the house via the garden.
When stopped by the occupier Jones calmly said he was just thirsty, prosecutor Alex Orndal told a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court. The woman closed the bifold doors and spoke to him through the glass, refusing to give him a drink, before the defendant left the scene.
The woman said the incident had affected her and her family a “great deal mentally”. She said her and her family now feel “a lot less safe and unable to leave the doors open and enjoy the garden”.
Mr Orndal explained how in the hours prior to the strange episode Jones had also attempted to burgle multiple other properties in the area including smashing the window to one home nearby. On that occasion the homeowner told police they heard someone, presumably Jones, say: “I didn’t think anyone was in.”
He was caught on a number of CCTV systems and residents in the area called Gwent Police. One of the residents said after Jones attempted to burgle his property he decided to pay for a new security system which cost him £1,400. But he said the impact on his family had been worse than that and his children were so scared they were sleeping together.
Jones, who is homeless, pleaded guilty to four counts of attempted burglary. The court heard the defendant had 32 convictions for 66 offences including breaching community orders, public disorder, criminal damage, drug offences, harassment, and burglaries.
Kevin Seal, for Jones, said his client’s offending on this occasion was not sophisticated in nature. “He is trying doors,” Mr Seal said. “And when he comes into contact with homeowners no violence has occurred.” Judge Jeremy Jenkins, sentencing Jones, said there had been a degree of planning and occupiers of the homes were all on the premises at the time, including on one occasion on September 7 when Jones had a confrontation with a homeowner.
“Burglaries and attempted burglaries leave occupiers with a sense of unease and violation,” Judge Jenkins told Jones. “Their homes have been entered or attempted to be entered into by intruders like you and it’s never the same again for them. They are always on their guard. They live with a sense of violation and insecurity.” Jones, who appeared in court via an online link from HMP Cardiff, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, half of which he will serve in prison and the other half on licence.
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