Trio locked up for £26,000 Doncaster raid
Daniel Thomas Harty, aged 34, William Peat, 26, and John Watson, 28, broke into a home in Goodwood Gardens, Cantley, on January 26.
The property is owned by a man who runs an e-cigarette company, Sheffield Crown Court heard.
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Hide AdJames Baird, prosecuting, said the victim kept large amounts of money in his home and left his property ‘locked and secure’ at 10am on the day of the break-in.
But, when he returned at 4.3opm, he found the lock on the front door had been broken.
“It was obvious there had been a search of all the rooms,” said Mr Baird.
“A briefcase had been forced open with a metal instrument and £26,000, mostly in £10 and £20 notes, had been taken. The three defendants were caught on CCTV checking out the house and then breaking the lock. They were inside for about five to 10 minutes.”
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Hide AdAlexander Menary, mitigating for Harty, said: “He had been out of trouble for a while. This is nobody’s fault but his own.”
George Hazel-Owram, for Peat, said his client was ‘remorseful’.
The judge, Recorder Duncan Smith, was handed a note from Peat’s heavily pregnant partner, who said she wanted him to be involved in his new baby daughter’s life.
Satvir Aujla, mitigating for Watson, said: “He says it was a very stupid action. He regrets what he did.”
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Hide AdAll three pleaded guilty to one count of burglary at a previous hearing.
Harty, of Pony Paddocks, Toll Bar, also admitted a second count of burglary, after breaking into a home on Highfield Road in February. Nothing was stolen during the incident as the homeowner returned.
Harty was sent to jail for 52 months. Peat, of Jefferson Avenue, Clay Lane, received a 36-month sentence and Watson, of Bootham Lane, Dunscroft, was imprisoned for 40 months.
Recorder Smith said: “This was serious organised crime.
“You stole a significant amount of cash, not a penny of which has been recovered and probably never will be.”
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Hide AdAddressing Peat directly, he said: “I have read a very heartfelt letter from the lady who is about to give birth to your child.
“She said she wants her daughter to know her father and be proud of him. You should be thoroughly ashamed.
“You are going to prison and you will miss the birth of your child, and the christening and the Christmases, because you put your own personal greed above all else.”
Peat, who appeared in court via video link from Doncaster Prison along with Watson, bowed his head and wept as the judge spoke to him.
The trio were also told they must each pay £120 in victim surcharge costs when they are released from jail.