Romford plumber who stole from widower jailed for two years
Plumber Perry Trotman, 29, of Hitchin Close, Romford, was jailed for two years after stealing from a widower, two days after the man's partner had died. Picture: PA - Credit: PA Archive/Press Association Ima
A burglar who stole sentimental jewellery belonging to the partner of a widower two days after she died will spend Christmas in jail.
Plumber Perry Trotman, 29, of Hitchin Close, Romford, was jailed for two years at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday.
The court heard Trotman broke into the home of Roy Stanley, in Takeley, Essex, on the morning of March 7 last year.
Mr Stanley’s partner died two days before the house was ransacked and it was her jewellery which was taken.
Two co-defendants also burgled a house in Woodgates End, Broxted, Essex, later that day and stole a gold watch worth £12,000.
Prosecutor Jamie Sawyer said Mr Stanley could not put a value on the items taken.
Suspicious neighbours noted part of the registration of a black VW Golf, which police stuck in traffic in Stansted Mountfitchet at 1.15pm saw travelling in the opposite direction and stopped.
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“Trotman was driving and two others were inside. One ran off,” said the prosecutor.
The watch was found under the car seat.
Trotman pleaded guilty to burglary of the house in Takeley and was jailed for 18 months.
He also admitted handling the watch and was jailed for a further six months, to run consecutively.
He claimed he did not know from the start that the other two were out burgling and that he never went into either property.
Mitigating, Evelyn Hicks said Trotman “realised at some point what was happening and didn’t want any more part of it”.
One of the co-defendants was jailed for 32 months at an earlier hearing, while the other, aged 16, was dealt with at a youth court.
Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC told Trotman: “Burglary is a serious crime which strikes at the security and sense of wellbeing of the residents and is deplored.
“Moreover the householder was recently bereaved, he was bereft of his partner and it was her jewellery which was taken.
“You have to accept full moral and legal responsibility for what happened.”
