Raider, 23, is jailed for ransacking Ellesmere home

Adam Jones, of Cherry Drive, Ellesmere, admitted burglary with intent to cause criminal damage at Shrewsbury Crown Count on Tuesday.

The court heard how on July 24, 2012, Jones and two friends forced entry into the home of a single lady in Church Street, Ellesmere.

The property was then ransacked by the three men who caused £400 damage.

Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said: "This lady was living alone.

"On July 24 she left the address and returned on the morning of July 25.

"Upon entering the property she found it had been trashed both upstairs and downstairs.

"In summary it was the whole house the offenders had been in."

Mr Jones said a couple of days later the victim discovered an iPhone lead which she was later told by a friend belonged to one of the three men.

He said: "The friend told her that Jones and two others had visited him.

"The significance was one of the three had lost an iPhone lead.

"That information was given to the police."

The court was told the victim's friend was then interviewed by the police.

He went on to show officers text messages confirming Jones had been involved in the burglary.

Debra White, mitigating, said Jones believed he had been receiving threats from the woman and that the attack was not pre-meditated.

Mrs White said: "Under the influence of alcohol he decided to go to the address.

"Some friends went with him.

"They initially knocked on the door and received no response.

"At that point the door was kicked down by someone the defendant was with.

"The defendant admits after the door was kicked down he entered the property and started to trash it."

Judge Robin Onions said: "Adams Jones you are 23 years of age and in my opinion you are an immature 23-year-old.

"You had no right to be in these premises.

"It says in the report that you do not like the complainant but you are unable to explain why," he continued.

"For some kind of incoherent reason, no doubt influenced by the fact you had too much to drink, you and two others went to this property and forced your way in.

"You were, in fact, attacking the home of a single woman which I think is a cowardly act.

"I view this as a very serious offence," he continued.

" It was an attack against a vulnerable victim."