Last updated at 16:32, Wednesday, 28 November 2012

A SEVERELY disabled 94-year-old was left distressed and scared after her nextdoor neighbour broke in and burgled her home while she slept.

DENNIS FLANNARY

Marjorie Prosser used to leave her door unlocked during the day so friends could come into her house and visit her. 

However, her family say Mrs Prosser – who is partially deaf and has limited mobility – now keeps her door locked after
Dennis Flannary stole £350 in cash.

He was sentenced to 15 months at Preston Crown Court yesterday.

Flannary, 57, of Arundel Drive, Barrow, committed the crime to take revenge after he was arrested in connection with
another theft from her house, the court heard.

The court was told some jewellery was stolen from Mrs Prosser’s house in June, around the same time Flannary had been doing some repair work on her guttering.

He was arrested in connection with the theft, but no jewellery was ever recovered and he was not charged. However, on October 12 Mrs Prosser awoke to find a glass panel had been smashed at her home and £350 taken from the top of a kitchen cupboard.

The court heard suspicion fell on Flannary who was arrested and admitted the theft, saying he wanted to get revenge on her for getting him in trouble with the police.

After the hearing a family member, who did not want to be named, told the Evening Mail she had loaned Flannary money on a number of occasions but stopped after he did not pay it back.

He said two expensive rings and a gold bracelet worth more than £6000 were taken during the incident in June.

However, Mrs Prosser had known nothing about the arrest and so Flannary had no reason to take revenge, he said.

“We never told her, she was too upset,” the man said.

“It has all obviously been a great shock to her at her age. She was really very, very upset to think anyone had been in her house.”

Mrs Prosser, who had lived in her house for more than 25 years, had trouble getting up and answering the door and used to leave it open during the day so people could come and visit.

Now she kept it locked and people had to arrange meetings in advance, he said. Defence barrister Mr Tom Lord told the hearing Flannary had been struggling with alcoholism that had got out of control, but was a “diligent husband, diligent father and diligent grandfather”.

Recorder Paul O’Brien said he had to pass an immediate prison sentence. Flannary was also told to pay a £100 victim surcharge.

First published at 16:01, Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk