A DRUG addict who burgled a house to feed his habit, even though his sister died from an over-dose, has been sent to jail for two years.
Scott Bates, 26, appeared before Coventry Crown Court last Thursday charged with burglary.
The court heard how Bates, who lived in Clennon Rise, Henley Green, smashed the windows of a property he burgled last October and made off with about £600 worth of items which included a Playstation and jewellery.
Police investigating the incident found the offender’s fingerprints on a bag that was at the address.
When they interviewed Bates he claimed to have no recollection of the evening’s events because he had taken drugs.
He couldn’t explain how his fingerprints got on the bag.
Prosecutor Blondol Thompson told the court Bates had committed his first burglary when he was just 13.
Richard Murray, defending, told of Bates’ troubled upbringing, which involved his parents separating at an early age.
He said: “There is no secret as to what drives him to come before the criminal courts.
“His parents separated at an early age and since then he has lived a transient lifestyle.
“In short it’s a long road that Mr Bates has to travel to get himself law abiding and drug free. And he is starting to show the first shoots of doing just that.
“For the first time really he is looking at his life and wanting to change it.
“The last thing he wants is to be like his brother who has an entrenched drug addiction, or be like his sister, who died from an overdose – he nearly died himself.”
Bates, who had just finished a 36-week sentence for a different offence two weeks ago, had pleaded guilty to his charge of burglary six weeks into that sentence.
Judge Philip Gregory sentenced Bates to two years in jail.
He said: “You have been committing criminal offences since you were 13.
“You’ve proved yourself to be a determined thief.
“If you commit an offence of this nature again sentencing will start at three years and will
probably be a lot longer.
“I’m satisfied that nothing other than a custodial sentence can, in this case, be justified.”
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