Two Burglars Jailed for Targeting Dementia Sufferer Same Day

Two intruders have been jailed after targeting an elderly man with dementia in separate burglaries on the same day in Newport.

Rebecca Allen, 35, and Lewis Evans, 27, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court after both breaking into the victim’s home on April 27.

The court heard that the victim’s son was visiting at around 6pm when he spotted the pair inside the house. Prosecutor David Pinnell said their presence startled the intruders, causing the man to drop a glass he was drinking from before both fled – with the man falling over in the road as he scrambled away.

Evans was arrested nearby at 6.30pm after the son provided detailed descriptions to police. When arrested, Evans claimed he had been inside another property at the time. Two bottles of alcohol seized were confirmed stolen from the victim’s home, and Evans was found with cocaine when searched at Ystrad Mynach Police Station.

CCTV footage later revealed Allen had broken in earlier that day at around 1pm, spending “a little over a minute” inside before leaving with an extendable hose from under the stairs. She was identified and arrested on Commercial Road on May 9, also found with cocaine.

Allen initially told officers she knew the victim and “had permission to pop in whenever she wanted for a cup of tea.”

Both pleaded guilty to burglary and cocaine possession. Allen, of London Street, Newport, had 11 previous convictions for 25 offences, whilst Evans, of no fixed abode, had 20 convictions for 36 offences.

Reading a letter to the court, Allen apologised: “I shouldn’t have taken what I’ve taken. It was stupid.”

Hannah Friedman, mitigating for Allen, said: “She understands there is only one sentence available to the court.”

Jac Brown, for Evans, said: “The best mitigation is his guilty pleas. He understands the only outcome today is an immediate custodial sentence.”

Recorder Simon Stephenson said only prison could be justified after both targeted a “vulnerable” victim.

Allen was jailed for 22 months, Evans for 20 months.