A gang of burglars raided a house and turned it “upside down” during a “messy search” before escaping with a stash of £4,000 cash and jewellery valued at about £8,000.
The shocked occupier could not believe his eyes when he arrived back home to see the trail of destruction and he had “never seen anything like this” in 20 years. Blood stains left at the scene later trapped one of the team of intruders, Hull Crown Court heard.
Father-of-two Karwan Ahmed, 42, of Woodbine Close, off Beverley Road, Hull, admitted an offence of burglary on December 27.
Eugene Cross, prosecuting, said that the occupier of a house in Hartoft Road, west Hull, left his home locked and went to work at about 1pm but, when he returned at 11.30pm, he discovered that there had been a break-in and the lights were on. The rear door into the kitchen had been broken and was open.
Storage spaces had been ransacked and £4,000 cash hidden in a wardrobe had been taken as well as gold jewellery, valued at £7,000 to £8,000. A mattress had been flipped over. It cost £2,000 to replace the rear door. Other damage was caused to a ceiling and roof tiles had been removed.
The matter was reported to the police and a blood stain on a shed door was matched to Ahmed. He was arrested on February 4 and he told police that he was with two other people but he claimed that he did not go inside the house or take anything from it. He claimed that the other two men entered the house through a side door and that he remained near the back door.
The occupier of the house later said: “I have lived in this country for 20 years and I have never seen anything like this. I am a peaceful man living a peaceful life.” He was worried about his wife and children.
Ahmed had convictions for three previous offences, including theft in 2014.
Hannah Turner, mitigating, said that Ahmed was involved in the burglary as part of a joint enterprise with the other two men. He admitted entering the house but claimed that he did not take anything.
“He accepts that the other two men may have taken something and it appears from the evidence that they did,” said Miss Turner. “He maintains that he didn’t take anything. He accepts that he went with the intention to take items but did not actually take anything.
“He has expressed significant remorse for his actions. He just doesn’t know how he has managed to be talked into this. He met these men who were involved at a local cafe.
“They invited him to join them and he simply accepted. It’s rather out of character. He didn’t benefit from this crime.” Unemployed Ahmed was in custody between March 5 and 11. He had a daughter aged 18 and a son aged 13.
Recorder Ayesha Smart said that Ahmed and two others broke into the house and carried out a “messy search” that included ceiling damage and roof tiles being removed. “Everything had been turned upside down,” said Recorder Smart. “Whether or not you benefitted, you were still part of that group that took jewellery and a significant amount of cash.”
Ahmed was given a 15-month suspended prison sentence, 150 hours’ unpaid work and 20 days’ rehabilitation. He was ordered to pay £250 compensation.