Burglar got justice on the spot (From The Northern Echo)

Burglar got justice on the spot

8:00am Thursday 26th January 2012 in Consett News By Bruce Unwin, Chief Reporter (Durham)

A BURGLAR received some summary justice when he was nabbed by a householder whose home he had just plundered, a court heard.

But, the realistic criminal, Daniel Keith James McGill, yesterday conceded he had deserved the broken nose he suffered when the angry victim detained him with the help of neighbours.

McGill, a four-strike burglar, appeared at Durham Crown Court, yesterday for a preliminary hearing after his arrest at the scene of one of his latest break-ins, in Consett, on Monday, last week.

The 25-year-old repeat offender pleaded guilty to the burglary of a neighbour’s house, in Lambton Avenue, and another property, in Fell Side, both in the Delves area of Consett, each said to have been carried out overnight on January 15 and 16.

Electrical items, a television set, jewellery, money and mobile phone vouchers were taken from the house in Lambton Avenue, seven doors from his own home.

A mobile phone, alcohol, tobacco and personal papers were removed from the house in Fell Side.

He also admitted the theft of a satellite navigation system from a car parked in Consett.

Jennifer Haigh, prosecuting, said there was “something of a struggle”

involving the householder who was the victim of the Lambton Avenue incident. She said the man’s wife rang him at work when she discovered the house had been burgled.

The resident swiftly returned home and outside the house saw McGill in a taxi with his television set.

“He tried to apprehend the man who had the television set and, with the help of neighbours, detained him until the police arrived,” she added.

Stephen Rich, for McGill, said: “He was trying to sell the TV set to the taxi driver when the householder came home and saw him.

“It was in the course of the struggle that followed that his nose was broken.”

Judge Christopher Prince said: “I don’t suppose he can complain about that.”

The defendant then said from the dock: “I deserved it.”

Judge Prince agreed to adjourn sentence on McGill to allow for preparation of background reports on him by the Probation Service.

Judge Prince told him: “When you come back you’ll receive a long sentence, but you will receive credit for your early plea of guilt.”

McGill was remanded in custody pending sentence on February 24.