Thief Baz Hockton stole deeds to brothers' graves in Margate burglary
Canterbury Crown Court,
where Hockton's case was heard
by Paul Hooper
A teenager raided the home of two pensioner brothers – "in the
dead of night" - stealing family heirlooms, televisions and car
keys.
Baz Hockton broke into their home in Northdown Road, Margate as
the brothers slept – and swiped a box containing the deeds to their
graves!
After admitting the burglary, the
19-year-old – who already has 31 previous convictions – claimed HE
was the victim of a tragic upbringing.
But Judge Simon James (pictured right) jailed Hockton after
telling him: “I have read about your young life and it is obvious
you are the product of a tragically difficult and troubled
upbringing.
“And whilst it is almost impossible not to have sympathy with
someone who has gone through what you have, there comes a point
when you can no longer hide behind your unfortunate life
story.”
He sent the youngster, from Archway Road, Ramsgate to a young
offender’s institution for 16 months after he admitted
burglary.
Prosecutor Vivian Walters told Canterbury Crown Court how Peter
Scrase and his older brother, who is 90, had gone to bed.
While they slept, Hockton broke in through the back door and
stole two televisions, their father’s retirement pocket watch, two
other watches and their mother’s engagement ring, the deeds and
bank cards.
“In monetary value, £3,300 worth of items were taken but the
sentimental value to the brothers was much, much greater, “ she
added.
She said that within five hours of discovering the raid, Hockton
and another man were spotted selling some of the items at a local
jewellers shop less than a mile away.
"You violated their homes and I am quite sure their sense of worry and unease ... that you were creeping about in their home in the dead of night will last long after the financial loss" – Judge Simon James
The prosecutor said Hockton was arrested at a friend’s house
where other stolen items were discovered, including the deeds.
Andrew Espley, for the teenager, denied Hockton had deliberately
targeted the vulnerable brothers.
The judge said the teenager had “entered the home of two elderly
brothers, one of whom was in his 90s. Whilst they were upstairs
asleep you systematically set about removing everything of value
that you could find.”
He added: “Among the items you stole was an engagement ring
belonging to your victim’s mother and a watch given to his father
for 50 years of service on the railways. It is difficult to image
items of greater sentimental value.
“Then to add insult to injury you also took your victim’s car
keys, rendering his vehicle - which he and his brother depended
upon for their mobility - effectively unusable.
“You violated their homes and I am quite sure their sense of
worry and unease in general by the knowledge that you were creeping
about in their home in the dead of night will last long after the
financial loss.”
A second man has now been charged with burglary and will appear
before magistrates next month.
20/02/13
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