Burglars stole elderly couple's tv during cruel gardening scam
Two burglars who stole an elderly couple's television from their living room during a cruel gardening scam have been put behind bars.
Leon Dunn, aka Stamford, had approached the victims' home, where the husband was disabled after a stroke and the wife, who has since died, was bedbound, and offered to sort out their garden for a £40 fee in June 2023.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Dunn drove the man to the cashpoint where he handed over the money, plus an extra £10 to help him out with shopping.
Dunn, who was banned from driving and should not have been on the roads, returned to the house again and said he needed a further £30 as his strimmer was broke and took the man to draw out more cash.
He went back the next day and again drove him to withdraw another £30 for his gardening equipment repairs. The court heard Dunn returned to the house again, this time with accomplice Philip Byrne in tow and asking for a further £60.
Prosecutor Joe Culley told the court "limited" gardening was done on that day but the victim was unable to withdraw any more money. Mr Culley said: "He was told he would have to give the defendants something of value.
"They didn't have permission to enter his property but they did so. Mr Byrne entered the living room and stole his television from above the fireplace.
"The complainant describes feeling powerless to stop the defendants from taking his property.
"Byrne carried the television to his car and both defendants left in the vehicle."
The pair were collared after a worried neighbour took pictures of them at the house. The victim said he was left worried they might return.
Dunn, 34, of Fontwell Drive, Gateshead, admitted three charges of driving while disqualified, fraud and burglary and has been locked up for three years.
The court heard Dunn is now a carer for his mother and realises how terrifying this must have been for the victims.
Byrne, 24, of Blyth Street, Gateshead, admitted burglary. He also pleaded guilty to two unrelated charges of aggravated burglary in relation to two raids at the same victim's home, while armed with weapons.
And he admitted attempted aggravated burglary after he tried to get into another man's house who was squirted with what he believed was ammonia. Byrne was jailed for a total of six years.
The court heard he had a traumatic childhood and his offending is linked to drug use. Miss Recorder Geraldine Kelly said the gardening scam was "cruel, callous and cowardly" and added: "You stole his television from his fireplace. He felt powerless to stop you both.
"His victim impact statement explains he was very shaken by the incident because his wife was mostly bedbound and she was present during the incident.
"He feels he has overpaid for the gardening work and you took advantage of him, both of you, of course you did and you know you did."
Both men were given restraining orders to keep them away from their victims in future.