A DEVIOUS burglar conned his victim into leaving his house by falsely telling him his neighbour needed help.

Craig Bray then raided his victim’s Newport home while he was out after smashing his way in through his patio doors before ransacking the property.

Christopher Evans, prosecuting, said the defendant got away with £400 worth of cigarettes following the break-in at the house in Waltwood Park Drive on October 21, 2020.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Bray knew his “traumatised” victim who has since installed a burglar alarm system at the cost of £4,000.

It also cost the complainant £150 to replace his patio doors.

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Mr Evans added how Bray had also burgled a home in Station Road in the Llanwern area of Newport in July.

On that occasion, a teenage girl was at home and the defendant fled without stealing anything.

Bray, 24, of Ringland Circle, Newport, admitted two counts of burglary.

He has five previous convictions for nine offences.

The defendant was jailed for another burglary in May.

Peter Donnison, mitigating, said Bray, from Ireland, had moved to the UK five or six years ago.

He told how his client became addicted to heroin in 2020.

His barrister added: “The defendant turned to crime to fund his habit.”

Mr Donnison asked the court to give him full credit for his guilty pleas.

The judge, Recorder David Harris, told Bray: “On the evening of October 21, 2020, you rang your victim’s doorbell and carried out a deception upon him.

“You told him that a neighbour required help to ensure he would leave.

“When his house was unoccupied you committed a burglary causing damage to the patio doors of £150.

“You then stole cigarettes and caused considerable disruption.

“You left his home in a very untidy and dirty state from what I have read.”

Recorder Harris added: “This offence has had a significant impact on your victim and you have caused him trauma.

“He has spent £4,000 installing security equipment.

“You targeted your victim and devised a deception.

“There was a significant degree of planning.”

Bray was jailed for 22 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge following his release from prison.