Burglar punched householder in the face and stole his games console and phone

Derby Crown Court heard how the victim was visiting the householder and was alone in the property when he heard noises outside.

As he went to the window, Adam Perkins made his way inside and asked him where the householder was before punching him to the face once.

Sarah Slater, prosecuting, said: “The punch caused the victim to fall back on to his ankle which had recently been broken. The defendant asked him (the victim) how much his watch was worth and then took his mobile phone from him.

“He picked up an X-Box that the victim had taken to the flat and handed it to a female who was outside the window.

“He also took three of four pouches of tobacco that belonged to the victim along with X-box games which he also gave to the female through the window.

“The female then said to the defendant ‘the police are here’ to which he replied ‘I am not going back (to prison).”

Miss Slater said Perkins, 26, was arrested and in his police interview denied being responsible saying he was not in the flat when the burglary took place.

He was later charged with robbery but admitted a lesser charge of burglary which was accepted by the prosecution after consultation with the victim. The court was told how his previous convictions included offences such as criminal damage, common assault, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of drugs.

Jailing him for two years and three months, Judge Nirmal Shant said: “You do not see yourself as a burglar because you do not have that on your record but what you did on that day was to enter somebody’s property and in order to do that you use violence to get the property you wanted to get. The victim was in a place he was entitled to be minding his own business when you punched him to the face and stole his belongings.”

The incident took place at a flat in Heath Court, St Augustine’s Crescent on July 4.

Digby Johnson, for Perkins, of Chester Street. Chesterfield, said his client had gone there with the female because she was owed money by the man who lived at the address.

He said: “He enters the property and strikes him once.

“It is not something that should have happened and it is something he is going to be punished for.

“He’s a young man that has led a disordered life.

“He went to Chesterfield College and studied building, getting work with companies such as Travis Perkins but the work was sporadic.

“There is considerable friction within his family and he often finds himself homeless or staying with friends.”