Man denies stealing bag from disabled couples home in Shrewsbury
A 21-year-old man has denied walking into a disabled couples’ home in Shrewsbury and stealing a handbag from the living room.
Shaun Roberts was said to have previously stayed at the property in Monkmoor and knew the layout of the end-of-terraced house.
A jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court heard yesterday that householder Denis Hollyhead was sitting in the living room and witnessed the theft.
Roberts, of no fixed address, has pleaded not guilty to burglary at the property in Dymens Meadow in January this year.
The court heard that Mr Hollyhead was confined to the room because of his ill health and there was a bed in the room where his partner had left two handbags.
Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting, claimed that Roberts walked into the rear door of the house just after 10pm on January 11 and snatched the black Tollard bag and its contents.
He said that Mr Hollyhead saw the man, recognised and challenged him, but could not stop him leaving.
Mr Hollyhead told the jury that his poor health and mobility prevented him using the stairs at the time and he had an orthopaedic bed in the living room.
He said his partner was upstairs and he was sitting on the sofa and there were two handbags on the bed.
Mr Hollyhead said the intruder came in from the rear garden and stole the bag.
He alleged that the defendant was the burglar and said he knew him and recognised him.
He told the jury that Roberts had appeared at the address when the police were there.
He said Roberts had previously offered to do some gardening when he had been in hospital and had later stayed at the house for a few days in December last year.
The trial continues.
