A serial burglar who entered a property in the centre of Tenby, simply to swipe beers from a fridge, whilst the owner was asleep upstairs, has been jailed.

Thirty-one-year-old Mark Brook who hails from Cardigan had 17 previous convictions for 27 offences, Swansea Crown Court heard this month, when sentencing took place.

CCTV showed the defendant re-entering the property on Lower Frog Street, on three seperate occasions between 6am and 7.30am, on the date of April 21, last year.

Lower frog street google
The defendant pleaded guilty to entering a property on the seaside town’s Lower Frog Street, as a trespasser with intent to steal from the property. (Google street view)

Brook was arrested in Cardigan in July, and admitted ‘burglary as a trespasser with intent to steal’ when he previously appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court back in January.

The prosecution told the court that the victim (who was still in bed, after her husband had left for work that morning) had reported feeling “terrified” and “vulnerable” after discovering that someone had entered their property.

A psychiatric report presented at Crown Court sentencing concluded that Brook’s offending and behaviour was partly motivated by his use of ‘illicit substances and alcohol’.

A psychiatric report presented at sentencing in Crown Court concluded that Brook’s offending and behaviour was partly motivated by his use of ‘illicit substances and alcohol’.
A psychiatric report presented at sentencing in Crown Court concluded that Brook’s offending and behaviour was partly motivated by his use of ‘illicit substances and alcohol’. (DPP)

When passing sentence, Judge Paul Thomas KC said the main issue wasn’t the financial value of the items stolen, but the distress caused to the ‘violated’ victims.

The defendant was handed a 16 month sentence.