
Last Updated: February 1, 2025
A 69-year-old disabled woman’s sanctuary of 60 years was violated when repeat offender James Barnes, 40, broke into her Porth home, stealing essential items including her medication and mobility scooter key.
Barnes, walking his dog on the evening of May 30, ransacked the property before attempting to enter another nearby house. CCTV footage led to his arrest on July 2.
The victim shared: “This house has always been my sanctuary and I have always been considered strong by my friends despite my disabilities and vulnerabilities. I now feel scared in my own home. Family members have mentioned how frail and vulnerable I have seemed to become. I used to enjoy gardening in the summer but I can’t walk out there for fear of leaving the house. My home, which has been my sanctuary for 60 years, is haunted by the actions of this person. I have been made to feel unsafe and alien in my own home.”
At Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, Barnes pleaded guilty to burglary and attempted burglary. Despite claims of being drug-free since 2019, Judge Jeremy Jenkins sentenced him to four years and three months imprisonment. Barnes departed the dock before the judge completed his remarks. ⚖️