Postman used prostitute to distract OAP burglary victim

[POSTMAN]

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POSTMAN Stephen Bridgewater burgled a disabled pensioner's home while his prostitute girlfriend took the victim shopping.

The 52-year-old crept into the 72-year-old's house and stole his £800 television after his partner persuaded him to leave the property.

But the defendant was arrested after he was caught carrying the television on a neighbour's CCTV.

The victim's son recognised the defendant as he had delivered mail in the area.


Now Bridgewater has been jailed for 12 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Sally Hancox said the vulnerable victim, who has not been named, lived in Corporation Street, Stoke, and used the services of two prostitutes.

The second prostitute to befriend the pensioner was called Kelly and on July 14 she persuaded the man to go to the shop with her.

Ms Hancox said: "The return trip took about 20 minutes, and as he and Kelly left his home he asked if she had made sure the door was locked. She told him it was, but it was not.
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"The defendant was waiting nearby in a car, and during the time that Kelly had taken the victim to the shop he was able to go in the house and remove the television, carry it away, put it in his car and leave the scene completely."

The victim's neighbour studied his CCTV which showed the defendant carrying the television.

Bridgewater was arrested on July 29 working in a sorting office.

He told police he sold the television for £100 as he and Kelly were drug addicts.

Bridgewater, of Franklyn Road, Penkhull, pleaded guilty to burglary.

Kelly, whose full name was not revealed in court, was not charged. Jason Holt, mitigating, said the defendant became vulnerable after his wife died suddenly six years ago.

Mr Holt said: "He was preyed upon by the person concerned. He gave her shelter, they developed a relationship. She started using drugs again and after a period of time he started using drugs and became heavily involved in drugs.

"Kelly would ask him to do things and indicated if he did not she would go on 'the beat', as she put it, to earn money to pay for drugs.

"He is not using drugs any more and not in a relationship with Kelly any more.

"He has hit rock bottom.

"He resigned from his job at Royal Mail and is currently unemployed."

Jailing Bridgewater, Judge David Fletcher said: "This is an offence which is distasteful and extremely concerning.

"You were involved with a woman who was known to the victim. You were clearly persuaded to go along with a plan which involved her taking him away from the accommodation while you crept in the house and removed what I suspect was the one thing that he spent most time using to fill his time, a TV worth £800."