Roofer jailed after pretending to use toilet to steal £8k from elderly couple
A roofer has been jailed after he pretended to use the toilet so he could steal more than £8,000 from an elderly couple as the woman recovered from cancer downstairs.
Isaac Lowe, 36, from Stockton, repeatedly sobbed, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry", as he broke down when he recieved his two-year prison sentence at Teesside Crown Court.
The court heard that Lowe was carrying out work on the couple's home when he asked if he could use the toilet and on his second visit on September 6. The victims then discovered their £8,375 in savings, which they kept in a box in their bedroom, were gone. When police arrested Lowe, they found £11,460 in cash, stuffed in a pillow case in the hotel room he was living in - after his relationship broke down the month before.
On Monday, Jonathan Gittins said that the couple had paid Lowe some cash upfront for the work, reports Teesside Live. The couple are in their 80's and the man went out to run some errands after Lowe had first asked to go upstairs and use their bathroom. When the man returned, his wife - who is deaf and partially-sighted and recovering from cancer - told her husband that Lowe had been to the loo again and spent a long time upstairs. The man went upstairs and discovered that his savings were gone. CCTV showed Lowe leaving the property, with something in his hand.
In a statement to the court, the victims expressed their fear, stating they no longer feel safe in their home where they've lived since 1967. Lowe, from Bridge House on Bridge Road in Stockton, admitted to the burglary. John Crawford, defending, told the court that his client has been "living where he could" whilst doing jobs after the breakdown of his relationship. Mr Crawford said that Lowe had a problem with alcohol, but that he is now attending AA meetings.
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"He realises how disgusting his conduct was. His greatest worry is his children" said Mr Crawford, before asking the judge to consider suspending the sentence. Judge Christopher Smith replied: "These elderly people would have been anxious. They have been waiting for this case to come to Crown Court. You'd been paid cash for part of the work and that had given you, I am sure, sight of the box where the couple kept their money. Under the pretence of using the lavatory, you decided to steal.
"You took two things: nearly £9,000 in cash and you took their feeling of safety in their home. The lady was present in the home at the time. The message has to go out from this court that those who burgle the homes of elderly people - who gave you their trust - must expect immediate custody." Lowe was reduced to tears in court, repeatedly apologising as he was sentenced to two years in prison. The judge ordered that £10,000 of the seized money be given to the couple as compensation, with Lowe set to receive the rest upon his release.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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