Career Criminal Attempts Break-in at Sister’s Friend’s Home

A career criminal with 42 previous convictions attempted to break into the home of his sister’s best friend in Abergavenny after previously begging her for food. 🏠👮

Jason Archibald, 50, tried to enter the woman’s terraced property through her kitchen window around 7:15am last summer while she was working on her laptop inside. The incident has left the victim feeling unsafe in her own home.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that Archibald has 104 offences on his record, including 26 previous convictions for burglary alone. He has previously served four-year and six-year prison terms for similar offences.

Summarising the victim impact statement, prosecutor Jac Brown said: “She no longer feels at safe in her own home and she believes she was targeted because she knows the defendant’s sister. She lives in fear he will return and says the incident has put a strain on that relationship.”

Police later found Archibald in a tent within the grounds of a church in Abergavenny. When arrested, he initially claimed: “I don’t do burglaries any more,” before later admitting to attempted burglary on June 22, 2024.

The court heard about Archibald’s struggles with drug abuse. His barrister, Tabitha Walker, asked for credit for his guilty plea and “genuine remorse”.

Recorder Dyfed Llion Thomas told the defendant: “Your victim no longer feels safe in her own home. You tried to get into that property.”

Archibald was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment but is expected to be released shortly on licence due to time already served on remand since his appearance at Newport Magistrates’ Court on June 24 last year. He will also have to pay a statutory victim surcharge.