Burglar found asleep on sofa after breaking into Poole home

Joseph Anthony Farrell put a brick through the back door of the property in Poole before taking food from the fridge.

The 43-year-old “made himself at home” in the early hours on February 19.

The homeowner phoned police after he came downstairs in the morning to find Farrell asleep at the address in Hennings Park Road, Oakdale.

Judge Brian Forster QC jailed Farrell for eight months at Bournemouth Crown Court on May 7 after he pleaded guilty to burglary and breach of a suspended sentence order.

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The court heard the defendant, who had been remanded in custody, has schizophrenia and was receiving support in the medical wing at the prison.

The judge said it was crucial a package of support was in place for when Farrell is released, including accommodation, or he is likely to reoffend immediately.

Prosecuting, Peter Pride said the victim was asleep at night at home when he heard a noise in the early hours from downstairs but thought nothing of it.

“When he came down in the morning at about half past six, he saw the defendant asleep in his sitting room on a sofa,” he said.

Mr Pride said when police arrived Farrell was “quiet and cooperative”, with no suggestion he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

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The prosecutor added: “He gained entry by throwing a brick through the rear glass door.”

It was apparent some food items had been taken from the fridge, the prosecutor said.

Mr Pride said Farrell, whose address was given as Cromwell Road, Weymouth, had received a suspended sentence from magistrates the previous day for an offence of assault by beating.

Mark Florida-James, mitigating, said the defendant thought the property he broke into was derelict and he was looking for somewhere to stay.

The barrister described the offence as “very odd” and “one of strangest” burglary cases he had been involved with.

Joseph Anthony Farrell

Mr Florida-James said his client wished to apologise to the victim, adding: “He never intended him any harm.”

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Sentencing Farrell, Judge Forster QC said the victim was “shocked to find you had made yourself at home in their home”.

The judge said the householder had “lost confidence” as a result of the incident.

The facts of the case were “somewhat exceptional”, Judge Forster QC said, highlighting the defendant’s ongoing mental health illness and the need for him to be supported properly.

He told Farrell: “Please take the help of the doctors.”

Dorset Police had sought a criminal behaviour order against Farrell, but the judge said it was not appropriate to make such an order in this case.

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