Stuck inside: Bungling burglar caught when he got trapped in a bathroom window is jailed
A bungling burglar who was caught red faced when he got stuck in the tiny window of the house he was breaking into has been jailed for four years. Paul Keenan, 36, was discovered half in and half out of the bathroom window in Bow, East London, when the shocked homeowner got up for breakfast. He had already been dangling there for several hours after trying to squeeze through the tiny frame measuring just 12in by 8in at around 2am under the cloak of darkness.
Blunder: Burglar Paul Keenan, who was caught after he became trapped in the window of a house he was trying to enter in Bow, east London, has been jailed for four years
Two fire engines were called and ten firefighters worked to free the hapless thief. A ladder was used to support Keenan's legs whilst the window frame was cut with bolt cutters. At 8.30 am, six hours after he attempted the crime, Keenan was freed without serious injury to the amusement of the crowd of onlooker who had gathered in Tomlins Grove
To add insult to injury he was led handcuffed to the police van topless as some of his clothing had been removed during the ordeal. Keenan, who is apparently being bullied in prison due to his embarrassing capture, was sentenced to four years imprisonment after the court heard he had a string of previous convictions for burglary, and was on licence from another sentence when he committed this offence.
Sentencing Judge Timothy King said: 'The courts might have hoped there would come a time that saw an end to your offending by breaking into peoples homes and the courts have made it clear in the past that it will not be tolerated. 'The sentences you have received have been increasing and more of your time has been spent behind bars than in freedom. I have little optimism that you will change.'
Alexander Agbamu, prosecuting, said: 'Police were called after reports from members of the public that a man was attempting to gain entry to a building and had got stuck half way through the bathroom window. 'The occupants of the house received a great shock when they saw that someone was half in and half out of their home.'
'Bullying': Keenan was apparently teased by fellow prisoners for the ludicrous manner of his caption
When he was finally freed and arrested Keenan, who was smirking in the dock as details of his case were read out, told cops that he had been drunk the night before and couldn't remember anything past midnight. Keenan, of Rounton Road, Bow, pleaded guilty to the burglary on August 17. Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that he had started offending in 1987 when he was just 15 carrying out robberies and committed his first burglary in 1987.
Since then he has taken part in a number of break-ins and has appeared before the court on four occasions for sentence for numerous burglaries. If an offender is sentenced three separate times for burglaries on the third strike the minimum sentence they can receive is three years. When he committed the latest offence he was on licence from a 42 month prison sentence imposed in March 2008 for burglary and has since been recalled.
Nicholas Cooper, defending, said: 'He is incredibly sorry for what he has done. Whilst on remand he has been singled out to be picked on because of the way he has been vilified in the papers and this is something he feels very keenly.' He added that his client had been addicted to drugs since the age of 15.
Judge King added: 'I can only express the hope that if you reflect on the anxiousness and misery you inflict upon others then that may bring you to your sense and you may think twice before invading the homes of others. 'It is unsurprising that the homeowners were shocked to find you half in and half out of their home. These offences are so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified.'
