A 28-YEAR-OLD man has gone on trial accused of breaking into the flat of a woman who considered him to be “part of the family” and stealing her safe as well as a bottle filled with coins worth up to £500.
Andrew James Richomme denies charges of illegal entry and larceny, and receiving stolen property.
The Royal Court heard yesterday that the alleged victim of the crime had woken up to find both items missing from her property.
The safe was normally hidden by a number of other items, she said, but she found those on her sofa. Only a few people knew she had the safe and coin bottle, she said, adding that Mr Richomme had seen the safe – which contained prescription medication – on a previous visit.
The woman said: “He was part of the family. It hurts so much that it’s him that’s been accused of this because he was like my son.”
She described how he used to come to see her every day.
The jury was shown CCTV footage taken just after 4am on a nearby street, which showed two men walking in the direction of the woman’s building, and later walking back down the same street, this time each holding items, which the woman identified in court as her safe and coin bottle.
Crown Advocate Christina Hall, prosecuting, explained that the jury would need to identify whether the person in the CCTV footage was Mr Richomme.
The court heard that Mr Richomme was wearing a medical boot on his foot, which matched the footage.
Jurors also heard evidence from a crime scene investigator, who theorised that it might be possible to enter the flat by reaching through the window.
However, no scuffs, fingerprints or marks from shoes were found that would indicate that someone had broken into the flat in this way.
No fingerprints were able to be traced to Mr Richomme, he said.
The jury was shown bodyworn footage of Mr Richomme’s arrest. After being told the reason for his arrest – but without having been told the address – he said: “You taking the p***? That’s my aunty’s gaff.”
The trial is scheduled to last two more days. The Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, is presiding.
