Burglar told police 'I don't give a f**k' when found hiding in bush with socks on hands

Burglar told police 'I don't give a f**k' when found hiding in bush with socks on hands James Dean, from Birkenhead, was found hiding under a hedge in a nearby garden after burgling St Peter's Catholic Primary School in Noctorum, Wirral, and causing £10,000 worth of damage A burglar said he "didn't give a f**k" about stealing from pupils when he was found hiding in a bush with socks on his hands. Merseyside Police were called to St Peter's Catholic Primary School in Noctorum, Wirral, shortly before midnight on May 24 this year after a teacher who lives opposite the premises was alerted to a burglary in progress by security alarms, Liverpool Crown Court heard. Defendant James Dean, 45, from Birkenhead, was discovered hiding beneath a hedge in the garden of a nearby home while wearing socks on his hands. Olivia Randell, prosecuting, said Dean was also found to have items including the school's CCTV hard drive and two cash boxes beside him at this time, with £652.16 in cash recovered from him as he confessed: "I'm nicked. I done it." Dean, who said he had "drank a few cans of beer", also went on to state that he would admit to a further six burglaries if his sentence would be limited to no more than 12 months. Under interview, he told detectives that he "didn't know why he did it, but it was most likely for money". Judge Katherine Pierpoint said: "I have seen the body worn footage in this case. He started to say that he wasn't responsible, that he had found the items, that he had seen some other lads get off. He then started to shout abuse at members of staff who had obviously been alerted by the alarm, calling them grasses. When police said he was accused of stealing from children, his response was 'I don't give a f***'." Ms Randell set out how the main door of the school had to be replaced at a cost of more than £7,000 after being kicked. Dean caused £1,500 of damage to internal fire doors, while the CCTV system would cost around £1,000 to replace. It came after an earlier spree of burglaries on April 5, in which Dean targeted Sylvan Home Care Services, Gossip Coffee and Wine Bar and Voltage bar, all on Allport Lane in Bromborough. While no items were taken during these break-ins, he was said to left behind a trail of destruction which cost more than £4,000 to repair. Dean has a total of 59 previous convictions for 127 offences, including more than a dozen burglaries. His criminal record saw him handed a three-year sentence for a break-in at a pub in 2019 and four years for robbery in 2022, reported the Liverpool Echo. Chris Macmaster, defending, told the court: "Mr Dean does not seek to excuse his behaviour. It is clear that Mr Dean has active diagnoses of depression, anxiety and ADHD and has a history of psychotic symptoms, including auditory hallucinations. Some of the things he says when intoxicated should be treated, in my respectful submission, in that context, in the context of a gentleman who has some complicated and substantial issues. "In another circumstance, there may be an argument, serious though these matters are, where the court could perhaps look at some other options. Mr Dean is a man in his mid 40s who, palpably, does need some help." Dean pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and asked for a further three offences of burglary to be taken into account in sentencing. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey Reprimo t-shirt, he was jailed for two years and eight months. Sentencing, Judge Pierpoint said: "The total damage was nearly £10,000 of damage of a public building. You got into the office area, where you had taken two money boxes and also damaged the CCTV system and taken the hard drive with you. "You made good your escape and hid in someone's garden, under a bush. You had socks on your hands, which shows some degree of planning because you did not want your fingerprints to be found. You were issuing threats to people who were nearby. "I do have regard to the diagnosed mental health issues that you have. That may explain, to some extent, the way you were acting at the scene. You clearly were, at that time, under the influence of alcohol. "It will have taken a lot of time, effort and money to sort out what you did in only a few moments. It is not just the financial impact that this kind of offence has. It is also the impact it has on the teachers, on the children and on the wider community. "I hope it is right that, in the sober light of day, you are thoroughly ashamed that you broke into a school where you have family members who go to or have been to that school. I hope you are thoroughly ashamed of what you did. You have an appalling record. I count well over a dozen offences of burglary and associated offences up to 2016. "I hope it is right that you are remorseful and shameful for what you have got yourself in and that you want to try to turn your life around. If that doesn't happen, you will either end up damaging yourself or serving lengthier and lengthy sentences in custody."