Fridge burglar beaten up by homeowner gets 3 years jail

A serial offender with more than 150 previous crimes was given a taste of his own medicine when he was caught red-handed going through a homeowner’s fridge in Swansea 🥊

Michael Parker, 46, was sitting through his victim’s kitchen when the homeowner discovered the hooded intruder at around 6.30pm on February 24 in Mount Pleasant. The court heard the victim told Parker to “get the f*** out of my property” before punching him in the face.

A violent struggle ensued, with both men “grappling” and falling to the floor amongst kitchen items. Parker “tried to fight his way to his feet” and made for a bottle of Budweiser beer, but the homeowner got there first and smashed it over the burglar’s head. The victim then managed to drag Parker to the back door and threw him out, locking it behind him.

Parker, of Talley Road, Penlan, was arrested just four days later when he attended Swansea Magistrates Court for an unrelated matter. CCTV footage showed him making his escape down Mount Pleasant hill past the Albert Hall.

The serial burglar has 74 previous convictions for 158 offences, including seven burglaries. He was already serving a suspended sentence for assaulting emergency workers and racially aggravated assault at the time of this incident.

His defence barrister Stuart John said Parker had “little or no recollection” of events due to a “substantial quantity” of Valium he had consumed, and that he has suffered mental health problems all his life.

Judge Paul Thomas KC at Swansea Crown Court said: “On a dark February evening the defendant, with his face effectively masked, had entered his victim’s home in what must have been a terrifying incident for the homeowner.” He added that immediate custody was “unavoidable” given Parker’s record and the need to protect the public.

Parker was sentenced to three years in prison for burglary with intent to commit GBH, plus an additional three months from his suspended sentence, making a total of three years and three months behind bars ⚖️