'Skint' man burgled next door neighbour's home
A mother's home was burgled by her next door neighbour after he confessed to her that he was 'skint', a judge heard.
She told callous John Burrows she was going out and he then watched the victim and her family leave their Darlaston home before hurling a brick through a back window of the house.
The 53-year-old climbed into the property and stole £50 cash from the money box in which she saved her TV rental money, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
But he cut himself on broken glass during the March 5 break in and police found a blood stain near the TV which matched his DNA, said Mr Daniel white, prosecuting.
Burrows had seven previous convictions for burglary, the last of which was 13 years ago.
He was arrested ten days after his latest offence when the results of the forensic tests were revealed.
Mr White said: "He spoke to his neighbour and explained that he was skint. When the family went out he knew that the coast was clear and threw a brick through the window."
Mr Jasvir Mann, defending, conceded: "He acknowledges that this was a mean offence but he was desperate for money.
He is now thoroughly ashamed of himself."
Burrows started offending at the age of nine after being put into care and 'pushed from pillar to post,' the court heard.
Burrows, who was living in Addenbrooke Street, Darlaston at the time of the offence but has since moved to Teal Grove, Wednesbury, pleaded guilty to burglary and was jailed for 15 months.
Recorder Nicholas Cartwright told him: "Your next door neighbour told you she was going out and you knew it was safe to smash the window and help yourself to her money.
"Everybody relies on their neighbours to keep a look out for burglars.
"They do not expect them to be the burglar.
"In addition to that you have an extensive list of previous convictions."
