A young disabled woman was left traumatised after she was confronted by a teenager breaking into her family home at night, a court heard.

The parents of the 25-year-old woman, who suffers from cerebral palsy and has a low mental age, said the repercussions were “colossal”.

Luke Reader, of Gill Crescent, Northfleet, burgled the house in Cecil Road, Rochester, on December 6 as part of a three-month spree.

He was sentenced to three years and three months youth custody after admitting four offences of burglary, one of attempted burglary and theft of a car.

Prosecutor James Ross said police were able to “work backwards” and link Reader, 19, to several burglaries after he attempted to break into a house not far from his home in Milroy Avenue, Northfleet, in the early hours of January 2, this year.

“For six months things were going well, but there is a background of drug use. Those to whom he was in debt demanded about £1,500. The stash of goods found under his bed were due to be sold to get the drug dealers off his back” - John Fitzgerald, defending

The victim saw him and was able to give police a description. Officers went to Reader’s home and found stolen property under his bed.

The first burglary was on October 22 last year in Raleigh Close, Gravesend. The occupiers discovered in the morning that the back door was wide open and a laptop and handbag were missing. Their Renault Clio car was taken and later recovered from near Reader’s home.

The next offence was committed in Palmer Avenue, Gravesend, on December 5. The owner returned home to find a rear window smashed and an Xbox and other items missing.

Another burglary was at a house in Austin Road, Gravesend, on January 2. Reader gained entry through a rear door that had been left open for the parents to go out to smoke.

Mr Ross said Reader had 14 previous convictions for 25 offences, including burglary. He was released from custody in March last year after serving a sentence.

John Fitzgerald, defending, said Reader’s main mitigation was his guilty pleas. “There has been no mucking about,” he said.

After his release from custody last March Reader was given an apprenticeship in gardening working for the council.

“For six months things were going well, but there is a background of drug use,” said Mr Fitzgerald. “Those to whom he was in debt demanded about £1,500. The stash of goods found under his bed were due to be sold to get the drug dealers off his back.”

Reader, he said, had no idea the disabled woman was in the house when he burgled it.

Mr Fitzgerald added: “He has asked the families to forgive him. He says he will use his time in custody to better his life.”

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