Scott Furlong (33) and 31-year-old Grant Craig Milon stole a total of £345 from the Admiral pub in St James Street during a burglary which was described by Magistrate Bridget Shaw as a ‘spontaneous act’.
The pair were caught when the police went to a property at Le Marais to check on Furlong’s welfare and found bottles of wine which had come from the pub. Another bottle was found at Furlong’s ex-partner’s home.
The court heard that Milon was arrested at his home and although nothing was found, he admitted the offence.
Both men pleaded guilty to break and entry and larceny.
Advocate Jane Grace, defending Furlong, said that her client pushed open the fire door at the rear and entered the premises.
‘There was no real thought put into it. There was no planning, no attempt to avoid attention and nothing was done to cover their tracks as such,’ she said.
Advocate Grace added: ‘This is one of those cases where prison would appear to be the best sentencing option.’
She said that Furlong intended to work with a forensic psychologist while he was in prison.
Advocate Paul Nicholls, defending Milon, said it was ‘a drunken, opportunistic act’. He said that it was not Milon who broke in, but the defendant had carried out a ‘stupid, ill-advised act’ for which he had expressed remorse.
‘He is not seeking to persuade the court that he should avoid a custodial sentence. He wants to draw a line under this and relocate to the UK after he has served his sentence,’ said the lawyer. Advocate Nicholls said that no one was on the premises at the time and that Milon, of Route des Quennevais, should be afforded full credit for his guilty plea, as he was fully candid in his admissions.
In sentencing, Mrs Shaw said that she accepted it was a spontaneous act and they did not have a plan to break into the pub. ‘You did it together
and you made off with the alcohol together.
‘You just went in and took it. It is a serious offence,’ she said.
However, Mrs Shaw said that she would not be making a compensation order for £345, as the defendants did not not have the financial means
to pay.
