Derbyshire caravan owner 'thought homeless man was dead when he found him fast asleep in his vehicle'

Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Friday, July 31, that Thomas Stansfield had broken latches on the caravan’s window to gain entry after a night trying to break into cars to steal food and change.

Stansfield, 28, had been living rough and admitted eight counts of vehicle interference, two counts of criminal damage and three counts of theft from a motor vehicle following a night-long spree of petty crime around the New Houghton area of Mansfield and neighbouring Glapwell, just over the Derbyshire border.

All the incidents took place overnight on September 26 last year, said Sarah Haslam, prosecuting.

“The owner said that he keeps the caravan on his drive and when he went in he noticed a blue rucksack on the floor,” she said. “Then he noticed a human leg poking out from under the covers and he thought that he was dead.

“The owner asked the defendant how he had got inside and he saw that the window had been pulled open and two of the latches were broken.”

The court heard that Stansfield, of no fixed address, had become homeless after being discharged from prison after serving 26 weeks inside for burglary and theft offences.

Mitigating, David Gittins said Stansfield was trying to turn his life around and was working hard with probation staff.

“He was trying to get warm and dry and sleep for the night, but he shouldn’t have broken the window,” he said. “When he was challenged he simply ran off.”

Stansfield had also entered a motorhome on the same evening and stolen trousers, the court heard, along with food, cans of coke and change.

All the incidents were discovered after the caravan owner reported the incident and police asked other residents to check CCTV on their homes.

He was given a nine-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months and ordered to complete 10 rehabilitation activity days with the Probation Service. He must also pay £447 in compensation.

Magistrates wavered prosecution costs and victim surcharge.

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