Accrington drug addict burgled dying relative's home to feed £100 a day crack habit
A drug addict who burgled an elderly relative’s house as she lay dying in hospital has been spared jail.
A judge in Preston was told Imran Khan broke into the pensioner’s home at night, trashed it and stole more than £800 in cash to feed his habit.
But after hearing how the 38-year-old had managed to get clean during five months behind bars on remand and now intended to put his life back on track Recorder Kristian Cavanagh gave him a chance by handing down a suspended prison sentence.
The city’s Crown Court was told Khan was related to the woman and did odd jobs for her in return for cash. But when she was admitted to hospital in a serious condition her house was unoccupied and locked.
Members of her family, including her sister, made daily checks on the property to make sure it was secure. But one day the sister found the lock on the front door had been forced and the house had been ransacked. The contents of a waste bin had even been tipped out on the floor of the lounge.
Khan had been seen hanging around the property in the days leading up to the burglary and was identified on CCTV from a neighbouring building.
Footprints found in the house matched a pair of shoes discovered by police at his home and he was arrested.
Initially in a prepared statement he denied he was responsible for the break-in. In an interview he gave “no comment” answers to all questions.
Later he confessed he had done it and, after learning the elderly lady had passed away in hospital, he said he was ashamed of what he had done. The money stolen from the house amounted to £832.
Khan’s barrister Clare Thomas asked the judge to impose a suspended sentence so her client could continue his fight to end his dependency on drugs.
“This (remand) has been his first period in custody and he has found it difficult. But it has given him the opportunity of being drug free.”
She said Khan, of Clifton Street, Accrington, had started smoking cannabis in his twenties but had moved into hard drugs. At the time of the burglary he had a crack cocaine habit costing him £100 a day.
He had lost both his parents to illness after caring for them over a five-year period and as a result had “taken solace in the use of drugs”.
She added: “He wasn’t aware she (his elderly relative) had passed away. He was very upset to hear that and very ashamed of his behaviour.
“He has spent a significant amount of time in custody (more than four months) and had been trying to make the best of the time given to him.
“He hadn’t realised just how bad drugs were. Now, after having had the opportunity of being drug free, he has had time to reflect on his behaviour. He is thoroughly ashamed of himself.”
Recorder Cavanagh told Khan the burglary had been “a particularly mean offence”. “It is sad really. You knew she was a relative of yours, you had known her all your life.
“You found that this property was unoccupied and you decided to go there and commit these offences. I accept that you are genuinely remorseful about the impact this has had upon the victim and her sister.”
Recorder Cavanagh said he had initially thought an immediate custodial sentence would be appropriate for this offence but, after learning how much time Khan had spent in prison on remand, decided to suspend his sentence and give him the opportunity to continue his rehabilitation under the supervision of the probation service.
He gave him a two-year prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered him to complete a 12-month drug rehabilitation programme.