‘Family hit’ by burglar’s jail sentence (From Gazette & Herald)

Family of Robert Oakley 'hit’ by jail sentence for burglary

8:37am Thursday 7th March 2013 in News By Megi Rychlikova, megi.rychlikova@thepress.co.uk

A BURGLAR’S family will suffer more than he will from his prison sentence for going back to his old ways, York Crown Court heard.

Robert Michael Oakley went straight in 2009 after more than a decade of breaking into other people’s homes in York and Derby and serving several prison sentences, his barrister, Taryn Turner, said.

He had found a new vocation caring full-time for his two children while his wife went out to work full-time and earn the family income.

But Rob Galley, prosecuting, described how Oakley raided a friend’s home in Castlegate, Malton, searched it and got away with jewellery and a laptop worth more than £5,000 while one of the occupiers was on the phone in a bedroom.

Judge Guy Kearl QC said Oakley’s wife would now have to look after the children by herself as well as work full-time.

“I take into account this sentence will have an effect on your family, probably more than it will affect you,” he told Oakley, as he jailed him for two years and eight months.

“You will have been aware of the risk you ran because of your history.”

Oakley’s wife wept in the public gallery as he was taken down to the court cells.

York Crown Court heard how Oakley had delayed justice for more than a year because he initially denied the charge, despite CCTV tracking him going into the house, emerging with the loot and carrying it through Malton town centre.

Oakley, 32, of Hungate, Pickering, admitted burglary on the day of his trial last month. The burglary was committed in June 2011.

Mrs Turner said Oakley was ashamed of his latest burglary, suffered from depression and had an addiction to Valium.

The judge said that although Oakley had been in an “emotional state” when he carried out the burglary, that was no excuse.