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Burglar is spared jail

From the Kidderminster Shuttle, first published Friday 1st Dec 2006.

A BURGLAR who targeted a Scout centre and a neighbour's home has escaped a jail sentence.

Richmond Yardley broke into the Rhydd Covert Scout centre near Bewdley's safari park and broke open four metal containers with bolt cutters.

He stole seven air rifles and ammunition, confectionery and a first aid box, valued at £1,225.

Yardley sold six of the rifles for £20 each and none were recovered, said Jackie Rogers, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court.

Since the offence, the Scout premises, used as a district camping site, have been replaced with a new modern centre following a massive community appeal run by the Shuttle/Times & News.

Yardley, aged 23, of Walter Nash Road East, Kidderminster, also broke into a neighbour's house while he was at work and stole medals, a DVD player, watch and briefcase.

He pleaded guilty to two burglaries and also asked for a break-in at Wyre Forest Golf Club to be taken into consideration.

Four beer barrels were stolen and lifted over a fence.

Judge David McEvoy QC told him: "If ever a man came close to going to prison, it is you."

But he said Yardley, who had no police record, had been frank in his admissions about his "silly" behaviour.

He gave the defendant a two-year community order with 150 hours of unpaid community work.

The judge also imposed a three-month night curfew with electronic tagging and ordered him to repay his neighbour £1,340 compensation.

Miss Rogers said £300 damage was caused at the Scout HQ.

Yardley's neighbour Sean Warner was very upset at losing his precious medals.

Defence counsel Peter McCartney said Yardley needed funds to finance a cannabis habit and had fallen into bad company.

He claimed two accomplices went with him to the Scout site.

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