By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 12:04, Tuesday, 09 February 2010

A man who burgled an old lady’s home while she was out at a Remembrance Sunday church service has been sent to prison for three years.

Robert McKie, 37, was homeless but had been staying with a friend near the pensioner’s home in Bisland Court, off Eastern Way, Carlisle.

Carlisle Crown Court heard he knew when he broke into the house that it was the home of a woman in her eighties.

“What makes this case particularly serious is that you knew perfectly well how old this lady was,” Judge Paul Batty QC told him.

McKie, who has no fixed address, pleaded guilty to burgling the old lady’s home and stealing her two televisions and about £80 in cash and to breaking into another property nearby about a month earlier.

He also admitted stealing jumpers worth £108 from Debenhams.

They were the latest convictions in a long criminal career, which included several convictions for burglary among his 84 offences.

Judge Batty said the courts would always protect vulnerable victims.

“Elderly people are entitled to the protection of the courts and I am sure a deterrent sentence is required so that it is clearly understood that the courts simply will not tolerate this type of appalling behaviour,” he said.

The judge gave a £150 reward to pensioner Charlie Page, who gave the police valuable information after seeing McKie

The court heard Mr Page, who lived near the old lady, felt guilty for not challenging McKie when he saw him.

First published at 11:26, Tuesday, 09 February 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk