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Deemster calls for burglary penalties to increase

Tue, 26 Jan 2016

Penalties for criminals who are convicted of domestic burglary need to be "greatly increased" - that's according to an Island Deemster who says they aren't tough enough.

Deemster Alistair Montgomerie made the comments as he sentenced an 18-year-old for burgling a house in Willaston last October - he struck in the earlyhours of the morning whilst the occupants were sleeping.

During his sentencing remarks he told the court it was his personal view that the Appeal Court should relook at the area saying the penalties should be tougher.

Handing the teenager a Community Service Order he said "I don't want any other family to go through what they've gone through, and continue to do so".

Deemster Montgomerie said his view stemmed from the unprecedented number of domestic burglaries at the start of 2015 which remain unsolved - a chain of events he said had turned us into an "island of fear". 

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