Raider who stole pet must pay £1,010

A thief who took a chihuahua called Enzo in a raid at a West Bromwich home has been told to pay £1,010 under a proceeds of crime order made by Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Richard Lee Pincher, aged 30, of Schofield Avenue, stole the family pet along with electrical goods and jewellery at the house in Bilhay Lane during the raid in August.

He also took two mp3 players, jewellery, a video camera, cash and debit cards.

The thief is serving five years in prison for the offence and has not revealed the whereabouts of the dog. The cost reflects the value of the goods taken but the owners of the dog say it does not reflect the value of Enzo, who is yet to be found. Mother-of-two Louise Johnson, aged 40, said the family were still "devastated" by the raid.

"I just feel as though I have been let down by the criminal justice system," she said.

"Enzo was my little dog, and Pincher should have been made to tell me where he was being kept. I never had the dog insured because as far as I was aware, he could not be replaced in terms of value.

"Everything else that was taken does not compare to the sentimental value of the little dog. I cannot believe that anyone could break into a home and steal a little dog."