Family's distress after son's thefts (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Family's distress after son's thefts

A MAN whose son burgled his house three times in a week says he is trying to get over the incident.

John Lamkin, 22, has been told he could face prison after admitting he burgled his parents' house and also went on a spending spree with his dad's credit card.

His father, Nicholas Lamkin, told the Evening Advertiser the family was trying to get over it and he wanted his son to leave them alone.

And he rejected his son's lawyer's claim that the burglaries were not as serious because they were at the Lamkin family home.

"It has caused us a lot of distress," he said. "It is still as distressing because although we suspected him we had to convince the police it was him."

The family, who live at Oliver Close, the Prinnels, have two dogs and Mr Lamkin, 53, said someone not known to them would not be able to burgle the house.

He added that the family just wanted to put the incident behind them.

"We are trying to get over it," he said. "If he leaves us alone, we are happy."

Swindon crown court heard that John Lamkin first broke into the house on Friday, November 5, last year.

He then returned to steal from the property on the Tuesday and Wednesday of the following week.

Lamkin also stole a credit card from his dad when he was visiting him and went on a spending spree with it.

He admitted three charges of burglary, one of theft and one of deception.

Lamkin, who gave the court an address on Partridge Close, Covingham, also asked for a further count of theft and 14 of deception to be taken into consideration.

Andrew Hobson, defending, said: "Mr Lamkin is currently remanded in custody as if he wasn't he would be of no fixed abode."

He said that a pre-sentence report prepared by the probation service recommended his client go to a bail hostel in Gloucester to be assessed with a view to living there while on a probation order.

"I would apply for that to take place," Mr Hobson said to the judge.

"Your honour knows from the brief opening of the facts that while serious, it is a lot less serious than it could be as it was his father's house.

"He is not breaking into strangers' houses at night while they sleep and causing the sort of alarm burglars cause in those circumstances.

"While I accept the ultimate disposal may be custody, he ought to have the option before the court."

He said that his client had been on a similar order before in 2001 and had greatly benefited from it.

"He went to a bail hostel under a probation order with conditions of residence the same as this assessment and he then remained out of trouble for three-and-a-half years. He led a gainful life, had a relationship and a child," he said.

Adjourning the matter Recorder Michael Tennant said: "I am satisfied that this is a slightly unusual case.

"Domestic burglary is very serious and it would be exceptional for a probation order to be passed for such a case.

"Given the exceptional circumstances I will adjourn for four weeks but not, I hasten to say, with a view to imposing a probation order but in order that the court dealing with the matter has a complete picture of the defendant.

"I make it absolutely clear for the record that all sentencing options will be open as these are serious matters and the defendant should not expect there will be a community disposal here."

Isabel Field