Burglar jailed for six months

A 22-year-old man who broke into his neighbour’s home to steal food because he was hungry was today jailed for six months.

Ajani Albouy-Lovell pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court last month to entering a Spice Hill Road, Warwick home as a trespasser with intent to steal on April 11.

He was on a six-month suspended sentence and probation at the time for having sex with a 14-year-old girl.

At that hearing, the court heard at 10:02am that day, the defendant walked into the house through the kitchen.

The complainant came in and saw a male hiding underneath the kitchen table with socks on his hands.

He then armed himself with a knife.

Albouy-Lovell then jumped to his feet and said, “I’m sorry”.

The two men then struggled with the knife before the complaint asked the defendant if he was “AJ” who lived net door.

The defendant said he was from Somerset then fled the property.

Police were called and the complainant told the officers he was sure the intruder was his neighbour.

Albouy-Lovell turned himself in at the Somerset police station shortly after.

He admitted entering the home because he wanted food or cash because he was hungry.

He also said he didn’t know the complainant was home.

Today, Albouy-Lovell apologised to the court and said he had made a “big mistake”.

“My better judgement was wrong. I want to tell my family and the people that I tried to rob, I’m sorry.”

But Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said: “You had time to think about your behaviour having been placed on probation on the 27^th of February and yet still on the 11^th of April you committed these offences.

“More so then having to think about this, it was explained to you that if you committed any further offences, that that period of sentence that was suspended may be activated.”

Mr Warner said in all the circumstances, a six-month prison sentence would be imposed and the six month suspended sentence was activated to run alongside.

The prison term is from April 17.