Preston burglar's mum contacted victim whose home was trashed with bleach after seeing her appeal online

Scott Simpson, 25, and his accomplice poured bleach all over a kitchen and children's playroom, before they stole two Playstation consoles, a Nintendo Switch, a Fitbit, an i-Phone, medication and £170 cash.

The thief, who was known to the victim, attended her home on Sheffield Drive, Lea, Preston, on February 8 and learned she was going out for the night with her friends.

The men smashed a window and damaged a door to get in.

But the success of the raid was short lived when the burglar's own mother, who found some items in his home, saw an appeal the young mum had put on social media and bravely contacted her, leading to some of the items being recovered.

It was also seen by someone who had bought items from him, who came forward.

Simpson then sent the mum a message apologising for what he had done, adding : "I'm so embarrassed and ashamed of myself", but made no comment in an interview.

The criminal, who is presently serving a 27 month jail term for another burglary in the city, pleaded guilty to a dwelling burglary

Kimberley Obrusik, prosecuting, said: "She describes knowing them but not being friends with either of them.

"Initially it was this defendant who knocked on the door. He said he had popped round before going to another friend's house. The victim was upstairs. He asked what she was doing and she told him she was going out with other girls."

Throughout the evening his co-defendant also knocked on the door asking to borrow deodorant, and the men then turned up again and were let in by her friend.

The victim noticed they had blood on their hands and, believing they had been in a fight, she gave them baby wipes to clear themselves up.

The women went out at 9.30pm but when they returned at around 6am she immediately noticed her side gate was open and lights on in the living room.

"Her child's quad bike had been moved into the hallway and there was a T-shirt which she immediately recognised as his.

"There were bandages in the sink with blood on them. The back door had been damaged and the window had been smashed, with a crow bar left on the side.

"Bleach had been poured all over the kitchen and all over the children's playroom."

In a statement the victim spoke of the distress and anxiety it had caused, saying:L " I was scared to eb in my own home".

She revealed her daughter had been unable to sleep, and said she had struggled financially as her home had to be redecorated.

Simpson is heavily convicted with 18 convictions for 37 offences, including serving 14 years for an aggravated burglary.

His defence lawyer revealed he became a dad in January and was determined not to revert to his offending ways, which were linked to his drug addiction.

Imposing a 32 month jail term alongside his current term, Recorder Eric Lamb remarked on the "instant reaction" as a result of the community appeal.

He added: " The consequences of burglary cannot be over exaggerated but in this case they are made clear by the telling victim personal statement.

"The version of yourself in court today I accept is genuinely ashamed, genuinely remorseful.

"Unhappily at the time of your interview that shame had clearly not registered with you as you chose to answer no comment."

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