Terrified victims of burglary forced to leave home

When Glen Thomas went downstairs to investigate noises coming from the lean-to at the side of their house, he was confronted by the pair, one of whom towered over him.

Southampton Crown Court was told that Karolis Rimkevicius stood 6ft 10in and had played basketball in his native Lithuania.

When he was confronted by the victim he was so remorseful at what he had done that he took off a glove to shake his victim’s hand, the court was told. Rimkevicius told police he and his accomplice were cold and wanted somewhere to sleep.

However, the break-in had affected the victims so badly they have left their house in Langhorn Road.

Mr Thomas told police how his wife, Tasmin, had been recovering from a slight stroke and the intrusion had caused anxiety and affected their sleep.

He had also been nervous about her being alone at night.

“You badly frightened this couple,” Judge Gary Burrell told Rimkevicius as he jailed him for 11 months.

“You are a very big man and no wonder he was scared when he confronted you. I accept you had been drinking but that is an aggravating factor and when you drink, you do bad things.”

The 28-year-old, of Manor Road North, Woolston, Southampton admitted burglary with intent to cause damage, which prosecutor Matthew Jewell said amounted to about £200.

Rimkevicius wiped tears from his eyes as he heard defence barrister Matthew Farmer say his client had started drinking after his wife and a child were killed in a road accident eight years ago.

Because he had been drinking that night, he thought they were in a yard and he wanted the court and the couple to know he was very upset at the trouble he had caused them.

“He was polite at being confronted, if that is small comfort to them. He is very remorseful.”

The court heard his co-accused was dealt with in a separate court and had received a 12-month community order and a requirement to carry out 80 hours’ unpaid work for the community.