TWO men have been jailed for trying to break into a town flat while the occupant was home.
Luke James Oeillet and Craig Layton Livesey attempted to enter the property on Midvale Road in the early hours of 23 September 2022.
But when the occupant saw Oeillet putting his hand through the cat flap, he pushed the door open – knocking the would-be burglar onto the ground.
The pair were later arrested and Livesey pleaded guilty to attempted illegal entry with intent to commit a crime.
Oeillet denied the charge but was unanimously convicted by jurors following a Royal Court trial last October. The 40-year-old had earlier admitted a separate charge of breaking into the Best Western Royal Hotel in David Place between 21 and 24 September 2022 and stealing vodka, gin and a cash drawer.
During a sentencing hearing yesterday, he was jailed for a total of four years and six months, and Livesey was locked up for two years and nine months.
Giving evidence during the trial, the flat occupant told jurors that he had become aware of the defendants when a sensor system at his front door sent an alert to his mobile phone.
Describing seeing a left hand, with the palm facing upwards, coming through the cat flap, he said: “There was absolute anger. I was livid. I charged to the door.”
The man told the court that the door, which opens outwards, hit the defendant and knocked him to the ground.
“He was lying on the floor, complaining about his head,” he said.
During the trial, Crown Advocate Luke Sette, prosecuting, told jurors: “The only explanation is that they were trying to gain access to the flat.”
