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Lead thieves left boy terrified inside house in West Bromwich

Two thieves scaled the roof of a house to steal lead, leaving a young boy inside scared that they were trying to break into his room.

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Sean McNamara, aged 23, and Nathan Hancock, 20, climbed onto the property on the outskirts of West Bromwich and swiped lead worth £50, causing £200 worth of damage in the process.

As the pair struck on December 30, the boy and his mother were in the house, listening to the banging outside. The men were later seen fleeing the scene by neighbours.

Prosecutor Mark Cooper told Dudley Magistrates' Court: "The female occupant of the house was told by her son that he heard noises outside and he thought somebody was trying to get into his bedroom.

"She then heard several loud crashes. The defendants jumped from the roof and were seen by neighbours and members of the public running away from the scene.

"Police were called and shortly after they arrived they detained the defendants in a neighbouring area."

McNamara and Hancock, both of Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, pleaded guilty to theft.

Hancock pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing an offensive weapon.

The court was told McNamara entered his plea at the earliest opportunity and had co-operated fully with the police.

It was also said Hancock had pleaded guilty to the theft at the earliest opportunity and should get credit for that.

McNamara was given a 12-month community order, 80 hours of unpaid work and told to pay £125 compensation and an £85 victim surcharge.

Hancock will be sentenced for the theft following his trial for possession of an offensive weapon.

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