'˜The citizens of Mansfield deserve a rest from you', says judge as three locked up
Three men were locked up for a shop raid and house burglaries after a judge said: 'The citizens of Mansfield deserve a rest from you.'
Judge John Burgess spoke after hearing that three homes were burgled and a stolen car was reversed into Booker’s Cash and Carry on Melton Way, Mansfield at 3.30am on July 17 last year.
Two cases of vodka were taken from the shop but owners were left with a £4,000 repair bill, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
Four years in prison were ordered for Tristan Fretwell, 21, of Haydn Road, Nottingham. He had been convicted of a house burglary and raid on the shop.
The judge described the shop break-in as a “ram raid” and said that the burglaries caused huge upset to three Mansfield families.
He told the trio that he had read statements from the burglary victims and described the offence as “incredibly distressing and upsetting.”
The judge went on: “I am not at all surprised to read a statement from one who said he felt incredibly uneasy about security. It can cause untold distress.”
Andrew Wesley, defending, said that in the last 11 years, Fretwell he had been sentenced to 11 years custody. This was only possible because offenders are released halfway through their time inside.
“He was identified as being an accomplished footballer and could have taken it further but there was a lack of confidence in himself in social situations,” added Mr Wesley.
A term of 27 months’ young offenders was ordered for Jake Collier, 20, of Watson Street, Warsop. He admitted three house burglaries and the ram raid.
Chris Hogg, mitigating, said: “It was a spree of serious offences which he describes as a night of madness.” Since being in custody, he missed the birthday of one child and the birth of the second, added Mr Hogg.
Youth custody of 18 months was imposed on Curtis Swinscoe, 19, of Walton Crescent, Carlton. He was convicted of one house burglary and the ram raid. David Watts, defending, said his parents had “spoken to him about his drinking.”
He had been doing gardening work and was due to start a job with a demolition firm which could lead to him “being gainfully employed for many years to come,” said Mr Watts.