Burglar stole after Stoke Heath prison release error

Stoke Heath prison accidentally released Joshua Roberts, 23, who then broke into a house in Coedpoeth, near Wrexham – which was his 11th such burglary.

He stole an Audi Quattro off the drive while the owner was watching the Wales v England rugby international.

But when police officers saw the car on the Caia Park Estate at Wrexham, Roberts sped off – only to crash into some parked cars.

He and others fled from the vehicle but Roberts was arrested after a DNA hit on his blood found inside the burgled premises.

Roberts, of Bryn Hafod in Wrexham – already serving a four year sentence for burglaries – received a consecutive two year sentence at Mold Crown Court yesterday.

Judge Rhys Rowlands said that last August the defendant received a four year prison sentence at Chester Crown Court for four burglary offences.

As a result of a mistake on behalf of Stoke Heath Prison he was inexplicably released on January 9.

“You knew full well that they had made a mistake,” the judge told him.

He had then been unlawfully at large until his arrest on February 22.

“The fact that the mistake was made is a matter of concern, the more so because in a short period of time you reverted to type.

“In less than three weeks you committed another burglary in someone’s home,” Judge Rowlands told him.

While the householder was watching an International rugby match he burgled his home at Coedpoeth on the evening of Saturday February 11.

A patio door had been forced with a spade, an untidy search took place, valuable electrical items including two large screen televisions and an ipad had been stolen, and they had never been recovered.

He also took the keys to the householder’s Audi Quattro which was parked outside.

“Fortunately, as a result of some good police work, within a few hours of the burglary, the car was seen on the Caia Park Estate,” said Judge Rowlands.

Roberts clearly saw the police car and set off at speed, but there was a collision and he and others ran off.

The defendant had no reason to be in Coedpoeth which indicated that there must have been some planning for the burglary, he had been part of a group, and he had an appalling record for dishonesty and breach of court orders, said Judge Rowlands.

He had ten previous convictions for dwelling house burglaries.

In view of his convictions, the defendant faced the prospect of a three year statutory sentence but the judge said that would be too long in view of the sentence he was already serving, which had am earliest release date of July next year.

Roberts was also banned from driving for three years.

Prosecuting barrister Karl Scholz said property valued at £1,900 had been stolen from the house and the car had been taken off the drive.

CCTV footage from a local house showed a number of people had decamped from the vehicle after it crashed.

There had been a positive DNA match to the defendant’s blood at the burgled house and when arrested he made no comment.

Defending barrister Mark Connor said that his client – who appeared in court via a live link from Altcourse Prison in Liverpool – had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

“He knows he will receive a significant sentence,” he said.

Mr Connors said that the offences would not have been committed if he had not been released in error.

“That is not the best point I have ever made but it is true,” he said.