Burglar jailed for stealing firefighter's medals

The Western Morning News 

OKEHAMPTON, England — A burglar has been jailed for stealing a retired firefighter's medals as he and his family slept upstairs.

Billy Little, 18, turned to crime because he could not find an apprenticeship after finishing a plumbing course.

He was caught as he fled from ex-fireman Ian Donellan's home in Okehampton, Devon. Police recovered a cardboard box full of stolen valuables and medals nearby.

Little, of Bright View, Okehampton, admitted burglary and was jailed for nine months by Recorder Mr Kevin de Haan QC, at Exeter Crown Court.

Little broke into Mr Donellan's home in Ranelegh Road on September 21.

Nick Bradley, defending, said Little had been in trouble but straightened himself out and went to college in Exeter to finish a plumbing course in May. He said: "The next stage was to get an apprenticeship but he was unable to find them. He got work in a supermarket and became despondent about his future.

"He abused drugs and got in with a questionable group who he had been socialising with and taking Valium before he wandered off into Okehampton in the early hours." Mr Bradley said the burglary was not planned.

Copyright 2012 Western Morning News (Plymouth)

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