Serial burglar escapes jail term (From Southend Standard)
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Serial burglar escapes jail term
3:50pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in Echo News By Chloe Chapman
Darren Girling, 36, has 50 previous convictions
A PROLIFIC criminal escaped a jail term despite admitting 86 burglary offences.
Darren Girling, 36, of Harridge Road, Leigh, stole an estimated £294,176 worth of items throughout 2011 and 2012, and caused £13,793 of damage to homes across south Essex.
The extent of his crime spree was uncovered after he was arrested for five burglaries in Leigh and Westcliff between November 2011 and February 2012 whilst homeowners were on holiday.
Girling revealed to police a further 80 offences, including burglaries, attempted burglaries and car thefts.
Basildon Crown Court heard how he was even driven around by officers so he could point out the properties he targeted.
John Caudle, mitigating, told Basildon Crown Court yesterday how Girling was turning his life around following the birth of his daughter.
He secured a part-time job with his brother and has been drug-free since March 13 last year.
Girling, who used to live in Basildon, moved to Southend in a bid to escape his criminal lifestyle.
Mr Caudle said: “He has remained offence free and this is the longest time he’s been out of prison.
“Bearing in mind his history it comes as a surprise he’s done as much as he has. I wasn’t confident I would be standing here six months later saying he had stayed out of trouble and not committed any more burglaries.”
The court heard how Girling turned to burglary to feed his £300 a day crack cocaine addiction.
He has a string of 50 previous convictions for 250 offences including assault, using insulting words or behaviour and shop theft.
In 2007, he was jailed for three-and-a-half years after stabbing a father-of-four with a screwdriver on Christmas Day.
After being released, he was sent back to prison for two years in 2009 for running a cannabis farm at his girlfriends home.
Six months ago Judge Jonathan Black deferred Girling’s sentencing to give him a chance to change his ways.
On Monday he gave him a two year community order including 200 hours unpaid work.
Addressing him, Judge Black said: “You known that for a man of 36 years of age, you have an appalling record. You have spent a large proportion of your adult life in prison and it is no doubt something you are now at ease with.
“The only hope of keeping you out of trouble in the future is ensuring you keep drug free because it’s clear there is a very strong link between your offending behaviour and drug use.
“Sending you back to prison would almost undoubtedly revert you back towards a life of drugs meaning you would fund it by committing burglary.”
Comments(27)
Canvey van
says...
4:05pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Canvey van
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4:07pm Wed 20 Mar 13
fletch12107
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4:17pm Wed 20 Mar 13
firedog
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4:18pm Wed 20 Mar 13
paulatepc
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4:19pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Great British natural Justice!!!
Obviously the magistrates house wasn't on the burglars list of victim's home despoiled. Not just items missing but people left to feel their homes have been made "dirty" by an intruder.
But his got a daughter - so that's alright then.
hoppie
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4:28pm Wed 20 Mar 13
perini
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5:21pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Carnabackable wrote:I know this is a surprise..but I agree with you totally!
Aren't our Courts great, what does it take to get these scum bags locked up?
pendulum
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5:54pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Actually I do
It's the punishment
Absolutely disgusting
Let him try to commit burglary when he's locked up for 15 years
Rich.,Carol
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6:07pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Carnabackable wrote:Come on it was on 86 family's from working peoples houses so no big deal according to the judge.
Aren't our Courts great, what does it take to get these scum bags locked up?
A woman today from Walthamstow got 12 weeks jail today for her 3rd conviction for shop lifting from Asda. The total of her stolen food items was £28.54p because her partner used all her child benefits to buy alcohol.
Now you decide who should have got jail ? Me .. I would have given the piece of sH*t house breaker 12 years.
Basildon_Boy
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6:13pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Basildon_Boy
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6:19pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Basildon_Boy wrote:field day*
294 grand worth of items stolen! And he werent even sent to prison. So what the courts are saying, its perfectly okay to steal 294 grand worth of private property, as long as you have a part time job, and a daughter? I think many people will be out having a field night tonight if thats the case.
eddicaine
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6:25pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Nebs
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6:37pm Wed 20 Mar 13
shallotman
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8:27pm Wed 20 Mar 13
ORACUS
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8:56pm Wed 20 Mar 13
DogsMessInLeigh
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9:04pm Wed 20 Mar 13
ballyblue
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9:33pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Rich.,Carol
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9:40pm Wed 20 Mar 13
DogsMessInLeigh wrote:Your right, but probably 25 or 50 nice familys will be burgled before he gets caught again. Great lies in court and the judge believed the parasite. What type of girlfriend is she knowing that she was getting her money from other peoples misery. She is no better than him, pond life family ideal for the Jeremy Kyle show.
yes thats right and the police will be watching him.
asbo in a coma
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9:43pm Wed 20 Mar 13
A Dermot
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11:05pm Wed 20 Mar 13
supermadmax
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8:31am Thu 21 Mar 13
The fact that he was being driven around to show them the properties shows that he was cooperating fully.
Its quite safe to say information was given, on the understanding that if he stayed out of trouble and other convictions were made as a result of his information, then they would recommend a non custodial sentence from the judge.
Ugly
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1:45pm Thu 21 Mar 13
Was he the scum bag who burgled me, my mum or my mother-in-law?
If the police know which houses he targeted, will they be knocking on the doors to say we found the criminal?
Wonder how they will explain the reasoning of why he is let off.
whataday
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2:41pm Thu 21 Mar 13
No wonder Britian is in the shyte
max zorin
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8:11pm Thu 21 Mar 13
andyman1971
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4:38pm Tue 2 Apr 13
andyman1971
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4:38pm Tue 2 Apr 13
Carnabackable says...
4:01pm Wed 20 Mar 13