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| David Cameron speaks on judge's 'burglary takes courage' remarks | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The prime minister has said burglars are "cowards" after a judge described a drug-addicted serial thief as "courageous". | The prime minister has said burglars are "cowards" after a judge described a drug-addicted serial thief as "courageous". |
| Judge Peter Bowers reportedly made the remark while sentencing 26-year-old Richard Rochford for burglary. | |
| The Teesside Crown Court judge also said he thought that prison did criminals "little good". | The Teesside Crown Court judge also said he thought that prison did criminals "little good". |
| But David Cameron said burglary was not brave and was a "hateful crime" which violated victims. | But David Cameron said burglary was not brave and was a "hateful crime" which violated victims. |
| Rochford, of Westbourne Grove, Redcar, admitted two burglaries and asked for one more burglary and one attempted burglary to be taken into account. | Rochford, of Westbourne Grove, Redcar, admitted two burglaries and asked for one more burglary and one attempted burglary to be taken into account. |
| He was given a two-year supervision order with drug rehabilitation and 200 hours' unpaid work, with a one-year driving ban. | He was given a two-year supervision order with drug rehabilitation and 200 hours' unpaid work, with a one-year driving ban. |
| 'Not bravery' | |
| The judge reportedly told the offender on Tuesday: "It takes a huge amount of courage, as far as I can see, for somebody to burgle somebody's house. I wouldn't have the nerve." | |
| Speaking to ITV's Daybreak programme, Mr Cameron said: "I haven't seen the specific case. | Speaking to ITV's Daybreak programme, Mr Cameron said: "I haven't seen the specific case. |
| "Judges sometimes say things that, you have to read the full context and the rest of it. | "Judges sometimes say things that, you have to read the full context and the rest of it. |
| "But I'm very clear; burglary is not bravery, burglary is cowardice, burglary is a hateful crime. | "But I'm very clear; burglary is not bravery, burglary is cowardice, burglary is a hateful crime. |
| "People sometimes say it is not a violent crime, but actually, if you've been burgled, you do feel it was violent, breaking into your home. | "People sometimes say it is not a violent crime, but actually, if you've been burgled, you do feel it was violent, breaking into your home. |
| "That's why this government is actually changing the law to toughen the rules on self-defence towards burglars." | "That's why this government is actually changing the law to toughen the rules on self-defence towards burglars." |
| A spokesperson for the Office for Judicial Complaints said it had "received a number of complaints in relation to comments that His Honour Judge Bowers made in relation to a case in Teeside Crown Court on 4th September 2012". | |
| "Those complaints will be considered under the Judicial Discipline Regulations in the usual way. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage," the spokesperson said. | |
| 'Too lenient' | |
| One of Rochford's victims, Mark Clayton, of Lingdale, North Yorkshire, condemned Judge Bowers' comments. | |
| He said: "How can a man who is burgling houses be told it takes courage and be let off? He hasn't learnt anything from his mistakes. | |
| "What is courage? I did 22 years with Her Majesty's forces. I've done a lot of things that took immense courage. | |
| "The judge has been too lenient towards this guy's mental state. It's hardly fair. | |
| "I don't know anything about the prison service, but I'm sure it's all about rehabilitating people. That's why it's there." | |
| Mr Clayton said Rochford had broken into his house in the early hours, ransacked it and taken laptops, televisions and items of sentimental value. | |
| He added: "I thought Rochford would get some sentence. He has to learn from what he's done. He can't just be let off for the crimes he's committed." | |
| Javed Khan, chief executive of the national charity Victim Support, said burglars should be brought to justice because of the impact of their actions on victims. | |
| "Burglary can be a traumatic experience for victims and leave long lasting scars", he said. | |
| "It is therefore disappointing to see it being taken lightly by anyone - not least someone whose role it is to make sure offenders are brought to justice." | |
| A Ministry of Justice Spokeswoman said: "Sentencing is purely a matter for the courts, as only they have the full facts of a case before them." |