A man has been jailed for more than a year after he broke into the home of his ex-girlfriend while wearing a mask as she slept before he stole her jewellery.
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James Laughton, 31, was sentenced in Wollongong District Court recently after he pleaded guilty to break enter and steal and commit the serious indictable offence of larceny.
Agreed facts tendered to court said Laughton and the woman had been in a brief relationship from September to November last year after meeting on a dating app.
In the early hours of December 2, the woman woke up in her Gwynneville home, after hearing her jewellery being moved around, to find a man going through her belongings.
He had used a key left in the front door and was wearing navy tracksuit pants, a hoodie jumper and medical mask.
She soon worked out it was her ex-boyfriend, Laughton, and asked why he was there and touching her belongings.
"I'm not. You won't believe me anyway," Laughton said.
Laughton stole her car key, four rings including an engagement ring, two necklaces and a bracelet, with a total value of almost $8000. He then fled and police were called.
Later that day, officers found Laughton in a car at Oakhurst with the car and house keys, a necklace, bracelet and one of the rings.
In court, Judge Andrew Haesler said the fact Laughton was known to the woman did not reduce the seriousness of the break-in and offences of that nature often left the victim feeling a "sense of violation and unease".
Judge Haesler noted Laughton had taken meth and Valium before the break-in and wanted the items so he could buy more drugs.
Laughton also has a criminal record for dishonesty and domestic violence crimes and has spent short period in jail and was on parole at the time of the break-in.
The court heard Laughton told a forensic psychologist that Laughton was affected by a disrupted and difficult childhood and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after he was stabbed at work.
The psychologist reported Laughton was a regular drug and alcohol user but now showed "some insight" and was ready for intensive drug and alcohol programs.
"It is accepted that the offender's background has left a mark on him," Judge Haesler said.
"It helps explain why he took up the use and abuse of illicit drugs when young and why he did what he did this night.
"If he can get help dealing with his underlying mental health and related drug problems he may be able to turn his life around.
"Laughton must learn and appreciate that what he did was seriously wrong and could have a lasting impact on a woman with whom he once, albeit briefly, shared some affection."
Laughton was sentenced to three years in prison with a non-parole period of one year and nine months back dated to December 2020.
He will be eligible for parole on September 1 next year.
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