Yorath was jailed at Swansea Crown Court
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AN 'institutionalised' man 'who feels safer in custody' burgled a series of Sketty homes and attempted to sell stolen items to pawnbrokers in Swansea.
Robert Yorath, of Carlton Terrace in Mount Pleasant, targeted homes on Glanmore Road, Sketty Avenue and Lon Cadog during October and November this year, taking away cash, jewellery, lap-tops, cameras, cash, and electronic tablets.
Swansea Crown Court heard the 43-year-old was discovered after a police officer visited the pawnshops where Yorath had attempted to sell items, Cex on Oxford Street, and discovered one of the stolen laptops.
Staff then gave the officer a description of Yorath, and he was discovered on Christina Street, wearing a set of headphones he had stolen from one of the properties.
Prosecuting, Jim Davis told the court that Yorath had targeted the properties in Sketty between October 11 and November 6, travelling there from his Mount Pleasant home.
He said: "He appears to have moved specifically to the Sketty area to target".
Amongst the items he stolen were a Tissot watch from a property on Glanmor Road, which had been an anniversary present of the owner from his wife.
He also took £1,000 in cash from Sketty Avenue, where he had also stolen a camera, jewellery and a lap top, and taken another laptop and jewellery, and a tablet computer, from another property on the same street.
Yorath made off with yet another laptop and money from a property in Lon Cadog.
He pleaded guilty to four burglary charges, and two of fraud by making misrepresentations, by trying to sell the items to pawnbrokers in the belief they were his property.
The court heard Yorath had a long history of offending, starting with burglary in 1987, and 'continuing on a regular basis'.
His most recent assault was in 20067, for indecent assault on a male under the age of 14, for which he was sentenced to ten years, with instructions to serve four in custody.
Mitigating, Stuart John said: "He was released in September but has found it very difficult to reintegrate into society.
"There are no drink or drug issues at the moment, but there are certain health issues.
"He ultimately feels institutionalised and safer in a custodial environment. It was for financial gain, but also to return to custody, which is very sad".
Sentencing, Judge Keith Thomas said: "These burglaries were unacceptable.
"They were of dwelling houses of retired people who had accumulated a reasonable amount of possessions during their working lives, which you had plundered, by taking everything that was portable and of value.
"Your record of dwelling house burglaries is appalling. You have been doing it since you were a youth, and the only time you were not was when you were serving ten years from which you were released just a few months ago, when you resumed your habit".
Yorath was jailed for a four years for each of the offences, to run concurrently.
Read more at http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/institutionalised-burglar-who-targeted-sketty-homes-arrested-after-help-from-pawnbrokers/story-30007141-detail/story.html#MvwLAxpJuxmge0Bx.99
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