A TEENAGER who left his fingerprints at the scene of a burglary has been jailed for more than two years for a string of offences.
Thomas Sterry admitted targeting the property in Bradfield while already serving a suspended sentence.
The court was told Sterry, 19, had a “traumatic” childhood and things had come to a head in the past year as he was convicted of six crimes within 12 months.
Sasha Bailey, defending, said difficulties had been caused when Sterry, who is adopted, got in touch with his birth family in 2021.
On Friday he was jailed for two years and ten months.
Sterry was jailed for two years for drug offences, eight months for burglary and eight weeks for his suspended sentence being activated.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard a couple living in a property in Mill Lane were awoken by their dog barking at about 2am on June 29.
When the male occupant went downstairs he spotted a window in the house’s office was wide open and a drawer too, but he closed them and went back to sleep.
It was later that morning while searching for his wife’s now missing Ralph Lauren handbag that he realised his £9,000 BMW was no longer on their driveway.
Fingerprints recovered from the point of entry at the back door were matched to Sterry, of Fronks Road, Dovercourt, leading to his arrest the next day.
The black vehicle was later spotted in Maltings Wharf, Manningtree, with three men, including Sterry, and a female getting out of it.
Prosecutor Harry Hewitt said a wallet with bank cards belonging to the burglary victims was also found in the possession of one of the men.
Judge David Turner KC said: “The amount of upset and distress of intrustion, not least while occupied, leaves a legacy of anxiety and distress far beyond any material loss.
“You got back into contact with your birth family which led to a difficult legacy of turmoil, unhappiness and disruption.
“You self-medicate with cannabis and alcohol which has left you reckless and impulsive.”
Ms Bailey, mitigating, argued “this will not be his future and he wants to get on with his life”.
She claimed Sterry had been used by others to help with illicit activities.
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