Girlfriend's pregnancy drove man to burglary, court heard
A MAN stole £4,000 worth of music gear from a school after he found out his partner was pregnant, a court heard.
Samuel Robinson panicked when he found they were expecting and carried out the raid on Ralph Allen School in Coombe Down, Bath.
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Bristol Crown Court was told he caused £3,000 worth of damage to a window in the process but was caught after police established his DNA from blood left at the scene.
Robinson, 24, formerly of Ashley Hill but now of Church Road, Bristol, pleaded guilty to burglary on December 5.
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The recorder Mr Ignatius Hughes told him: "You have a bad record, including burglary, and you know that burglary, either residential or non-residential, is serious.
"I don't accept that this was motivated by the desire to provide for a child due in June, when you committed the burglary in December."
The recorder handed Robinson a six-month jail term, suspended for 18 months.
Robinson was given an 18-month supervision order, told to attend a thinking skills programme and will have to observe a four-month curfew, in which he must stay at home on electronic tag from 9pm to 6am.
Neil Treharne, prosecuting, said Robinson broke into the school's music room and grabbed Apple computer equipment as well as musical instruments.
He said: "They were able to find that the defendant was responsible for this. Blood DNA was left at the scene and Mr Robinson was arrested and interviewed and fully admitted the offence."
The court heard Robinson had several previous convictions for breaking into homes or commercial premises.
Giles Nelson, defending, said his client was released from a 16-week jail term in August last year and was trying to lead a decent life.
He said that when he realised his partner was pregnant, he panicked.
Mr Nelson told the court: "He broke into the school to get equipment which he sold for a few hundred pounds.
"He thought there was no way he was going to be able to provide for the child and he felt the need to steal.
"He realised that was a ridiculous thing to do.
"As soon as he was stopped by the police, he admitted it."
Comments
by nadiac1
Thursday, January 10 2013, 6:18PM
“Bristol_88
I do have to admire your nerve for admitting that this thoughtless moron is your partner.
However I am gobsmacked that you are surprised by our comments especially as you seem to defend his actions.
Who knows? Maybe one day you will grow up,get a job and take responsibility for YOUR child.Only then will you understand how we feel if his or her school's equipment is stolen and sold for a few hundred pound.”
by Kimms
Thursday, January 10 2013, 2:34PM
“SPA99
I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you there - Bristol_88's most recent posting is appalling.
Bristol_88,
YOUR: "YOUR partner is misguided"
YOU'RE: "You're too scared" (think of 'you're' as 'you are')
(,) This is known as a comma. (.) This is known as a full stop. Both are worryingly absent throughout your post.
Finally, you state "But like I said I'd be happy to take up anything you want to say when you can come face to face". Do you mean verbally or physically?”
by SPA99
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 11:09PM
“Bristol_88 - shame your boyfriend didn't nick some books on punctuation whilst he was in the school.
Other than your being typed for you're or you are, and there's when it should be there are; your posts are quite well written which portrays a modicum of intellect.
What the heck are you doing with him girl???!!!!”
by MrsFJH
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 9:07PM
“I feel sorry for the child. What hope has it got for the future when the parents are setting such a bad example?”
by bokbok
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 3:13PM
“Face to face? Not a problem, what's your address?”
by Bristol_88
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 9:41AM
“It would help for you sad people to come round to our house& say this to us not sit behide a screen chatting ****!! I don't know where your getting your ******** about instruments from?? Who ever wrote this article is a ********ting ****!! There's much worse crimes out there than this don't see you making a fuss of them what isit because your to scared? Think about what your saying & keep me& my baby out of your ****!! But like I said I'd be happy to take up anything you want to say when you can come face to face cheers:)”
by jezer
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 4:32PM
“Bristol_88, are you really the partner of this moron? If that is the case, and you are not just trying to wind us up, then you really are an example of what is wrong with society in this country today.”
by SPA99
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 4:27PM
“Chavtastic response Bristol_88.
PS. Is the guitar pic in your avatar one of the nicked instruments?”
by nadiac1
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 8:32AM
“Bristol_88
Is it really any wonder that people are slating your partner?
For those of us who work hard to provide for our children and then eventually
also do voluntary work to help our schools in some way,it is somewhat infuriating
to see someone who obviously does neither of the above have total disregard for our efforts.
Although I am not a Ralph Allen parent myself I feel for the staff,students and parents
who wish to have whatever facilities possible for their school.”
by honeybunny55
Monday, January 07 2013, 11:09PM
“Personally I find it worrying that they are allowed to breed! There is no justification for stealing and as a previous poster said - if you can't afford kids don't have them. There is no excuse these days for unwanted pregnancies except stupidity and ignorance - displayed in the comment below.”