Retired burglar 'cannot cope on the streets'

A burglar who claimed he had retired committed further crimes because he could not cope outside prison, his lawyer told a court.

Nathan Stewart's defence solicitor said he "deliberately carried out" two offences in Brampton in September, which involved making off without payment and going equipped for burglary, "in order to be recalled to prison".

Lawyer Duncan Campbell said Stewart, who was jailed in 2024 for raiding homes in Carlisle and Penrith, had returned to crime last month as a "cry for help" because he "cannot cope on the streets very well".

District Judge Philip Holden imposed a 12-month prison sentence, which will run concurrently alongside Stewart's prison licence term.

Carlisle Magistrates' Court heard Stewart booked a taxi for a journey to a pub in Brampton on 9 September.

"He asked the taxi driver to wait while he went in to collect his jacket," said Diane Jackson, prosecuting.

After five minutes the driver went into the pub but Stewart had left through a rear door, she said.

Then, in the early hours of 28 September, a householder in Brampton was woken by his wife, who had seen on a doorbell camera a man wearing a balaclava, gloves and dark clothing.

Stewart insisted he was passing through the garden and had not tried the door handle but was arrested and searched and was found to have a balaclava, gloves, two screwdrivers and some superglue.

The judge described him as a career thief and burglar, to which Stewart replied: "That was in my past, I am retired now."

"Your record doesn't seem to suggest that," district judge Holden responded.

Campbell, mitigating, said Stewart had spoken of being "institutionalised" and told the court he "can't cope on the streets very well".

"These two offences were deliberately carried out by him in order to be recalled," he said.

"He just couldn't stomach being back in society again."

Stewart admitted making off without payment and going equipped for burglary.

The court heard he had been recalled to prison to serve the balance of the four-year jail term he was given in 2024 and is due for release in June 2028.

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