Burglar stole from relative who was ill

A serial criminal who burgled the home of his own grandfather and took a car from the driveway has been jailed for two years five months.

Wayne Holden, aged 32, struck when he knew the house was empty because the unwell pensioner was on holiday, a judge heard yesterday.

Mr David Holden had gone away with a friend who left the vehicle at the address while they were away, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told. Wayne Holden kicked in the back door and ransacked the house.

Holden, who had 29 previous convictions involving 67 separate offences, forced his way into the property in Dibble Close, Willenhall, said prosecutor Warren Stanier.

He then ransacked cupboards before escaping with a TV and jewellery of huge sentimental value that included a gold locket holding irreplaceable family photographs, the court was told.

Holden, who also took a set of car keys that allowed him to drive off in the vehicle left on the driveway, sold the stolen television and jewellery for drug money. None has been recovered.

He was arrested when spotted by police at the wheel of the missing car on the M6. Mr Stanier added: "He told officers that he knew his grandfather would be away from the property. He also revealed where he had sold the jewellery but it had been moved on before officers could get there."

The break in was discovered by the burglar's aunt Mrs Elaine Holden who had been looking after the property during the grandfather's absence.

David Bratt, defending, told the court: "He started smoking cannabis at the age of 15 and was hooked on cocaine and heroin by the time he was 24.

"He has now been ostracised by his family. They will have nothing more to do with him and can hardly be blamed for that."

Holden from St Paul's Street, Stoke-on-Trent, admitted burgling the home of his grandfather between July 1 and 2 this year and taking the car without permission.