Bungling burglar screamed 'help me, I'm stuck' to homeowner after getting lodged in window

A was after getting stuck in the window of the house he was plundering. Tony Barnett woke up the owners of the property in Hanley, Staffordshire, in the middle of the night when he yelled out: "Help me. I am stuck".

They called the police who arrived to find the 55-year-old in the process of committing a burglary. A judge at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court has now jailed him for 18 months.

Before going to bed at 10pm on July 20, the homeowners locked their front and back doors, but the windows to the kitchen and dining room could still be accessed. Prosecutor Fiona Cortese said: "At 2.15am the homeowners were woken by the sound of, 'Help me, help me, I am stuck'. He looked out of the bedroom window. It was dark and he could not see what had been taking place. The defendant's head and body were in the kitchen. He said, 'Help me, I am stuck'. He asked the homeowner not to call the police. The man got his brother and called the police. An electric cable which did not belong to them was on the kitchen floor. The defendant was still stuck when the police arrived."

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Barnett told police he had not done it before, reports . He said: "I am not a burglar. I have never done burglary."

In his police interview Barnett said he was homeless and had stayed at a friend's house. He returned to the same address and tried to get in so he could sleep. He said he did not intend to steal but wanted to sleep.

Barnett, of Hope Street, Hanley, pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal. The court heard he has previous convictions for burglary in 1989 and 1991.

Arif Hussain, mitigating, said: "When something happens in his life he resorts to alcohol and drugs. He has weaned himself off the drugs and alcohol. He entered a prompt guilty plea. He assures me he wants assistance from the probation service despite his previous lack of compliance. He needs structure and direction in his life. He tells me with that assistance he can remain crime-free. At 55 he cannot continue to lead this sort of life."

Judge Andrew Tatton said: "The occupiers of a mid-terrace property were awoken by your shouting and it transpires that while attempting to get into the property through a window you got stuck. You were unable to further go in and you were unable to retreat. The offence was aggravated by the fact you were under the influence of alcohol. The pre-sentence report assesses you as unsuitable for community intervention. You have a significant history of poor compliance with court orders. I am satisfied there is no realistic prospect of rehabilitation. The sentence will be served immediately."