A BURGLAR FOUND HIDING IN A DEPARTMENT STORE TOIL

A BURGLAR FOUND HIDING IN A DEPARTMENT STORE TOILET TOLD A
COURT, ‘I JUST WANTED TO USE THE BATHROOM, BUT I WAS SO TIRED I
FELL ASLEEP IN THE CUBICLE.

‘
BUT 21-YEAR-OLD PAUL ABNETT’S EXCUSES DIDN’T WASH WITH
THE JURY AND HE WAS JAILED FOR 6 MONTHS.

INNER LONDON CROWN COURT HEARD ABNETT WAS FOUND BY POLICE
SKULKING IN THE TOILETS OF BRENTFORD’S DEPARTMENT STORE IN POWIS
STREET, WOOLWICH, SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT ON JUNE 26 THIS YEAR.

WHEN ARRESTED HE TOLD POLICE,: ‘I WAS HAVING A LOOK AROUND
TO SEE WHAT THERE WAS TO HAVE.

‘
ASKED WHY HE WAS IN THE DEPARTMENT AT ALL, ABNETT REPLIED,’TO

GO AND NICK, I SUPPOSE.

‘
BUT IN COURT ABNETT, A CARPET CLEANER, OF LORD WARWICK STREET,
WOOLWICH DENIED BURGLARY CLAIMING A FRIEND HAD BROKEN INTO THE
STORE AND HE FOLLOWED BECAUSE HE WANTED TO USE THE TOILET.

‘BOTH OF US WERE FAIRLY DRUNK AND AS WE WERE WALKING HOME FROM

THE PUB WE WENT THROUGH A SMALL FENCE.

I HEARD GLASS SMASHING AND I

ENDED UP FOLLOWING MY FRIEND INTO A SHOP.

‘THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO DO WAS GO TO THE TOILET, BUT I
WAS SO DRUNK I FELL ASLEEP IN THE CUBICLE.

‘ HE EXPLAINED.

ABNETT ALSO ADMITTED TELLING POLICE OF HIS INTENTION TO
BURGLE THE STORE BUT ADDED,’I WAS DRUNK AT THE TIME, I DIDN’T
KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I JUST WANTED TO LEAVE.

‘
BUT PROSECUTOR, MR STEPHEN WARNER ASKED ABNETT WHY HE HAD
FOLLOWED HIS FRIEND WHEN HE KNEW THE WINDOW HAD BEEN SMASHED.

‘THERE WAS A TOILET IN THERE, SO I JUST WENT IN.

‘
SETENCING ABNETT, JUDGE LLOYD SAID,’I TAKE THE VIEW THAT
YOU WILL GROW OUT OF CRIME BUT AT THE MOMENT YOU ARE STILL A PEST

AND A NUISANCE TO SOCIETY.

‘

ENDS