Burglar broke into a woman's home and hung out her washing on the line (original) (raw)

A burglar broke into a woman's home where he hung out her washing and performed tasks such as emptying her recycling bin and putting her shopping away. He left her a note saying "Don't worry, be happy, eat up and scratch".

Damian Wojnilowicz, 36, carried out the unusual burglary at the home of his victim in Monmouthshire on July 16. She returned home from work to discover her washing had been hung up on the line and items had been moved in the garden.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard the bird feeders had been refilled and plant pots had been moved. Inside the house, a pair of shoes had been removed from its packaging, which was placed in the recycling bin.

Prosecutor Alice Sykes said a meal had been cooked on the stove using items from her cupboard. A note had also been left, which read "Don't worry, be happy, eat up and scratch".

Shopping had been taken from a bag and placed in the fridge, which had been rearranged, and the recycling bin had been emptied. Kitchen utensils had been placed in the bin, and new ones from the shopping bag had been laid out. Toothbrush heads had been replaced on toothbrushes, an empty bottle of wine had been placed in a rack having been drunk, and the floor had been cleaned with a mop and bucket left out.

The victim also saw a bottle of red wine had been left out next to a glass and bottle opener, and there was a bowl of sweets on the living room table. She spoke to her neighbour who described seeing someone hanging out washing.

A second burglary took place on July 29 when the homeowner received a CCTV alert on his phone which showed Wojnilowicz walking on his driveway. The defendant went on to use the shower in a summerhouse to wash and clean his clothes. Food and drink had also been consumed and the hot tub had also been left dirty.

The victim asked his son-in-law to attend the property and the defendant appeared to be drunk and was holding a glass. He was asked to leave and did so, but the burglar was later arrested. His DNA was found on fingerprints from the first property he burgled.

In a victim personal statement, the first victim said: "Two weeks after the crime until he was caught, I was living in a state of heightened anxiety I had never experienced before. I wondered if it was somebody who knew me, if it was going to turn into a stalking incident, if he knew I lived alone and if I had been targeted.

"I was too scared to stay in my own home and stayed with a friend. When I returned home I was accompanied by my daughter as I was too scared to go alone. My two daughters came the next day to check on me and provide reassurance."

The court heard the first victim was planning to move address and was "hyperconscious" about security. The second victim said he felt "sick, horrified, and useless" when he became aware of the burglary.

Wojnilowicz, of no fixed abode, later pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary. The court heard he has four previous convictions for offences including common assault, public order offences, and failing to surrender.

In mitigation, Tabitha Walker said her client was homeless at the time of the offences and was undergoing a number of difficulties. She said the defendant was apologetic to the victims, and for the harm he had caused to them.

Sentencing, Recorder Christian Jowett said: "This was a significant intrusion in their homes." He sentenced Wojnilowicz to a total of 22 months imprisonment.

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