A FORTY-one-year-old Carlisle woman who helped a man break into a neighbour’s flat has admitted burglary.

The city’s crown court heard that Emma Aitken’s involvement in the night-time offence was limited to her throwing a mobile phone to the man so he could use its torch in the unlit flat.

Charles Brown, prosecuting, described how residents in Highfield Avenue, Morton, Carlisle, saw Aitken and her co-defendant – 22-year-old Connor Ingledow – carry out the crime.

It happened shortly before 2am on May 6 last year.

Neighbours saw Ingledow first drag a wheelie bin into the street and then he climbed on to the top of it and from there on to the balcony of the flat he was breaking into.

After smashing a window, he went into the flat.

“Miss Aitken was waiting on the ground while he was doing that,” said Mr Brown.

But after a minute or so, said the prosecutor, Ingledow reappeared on the balcony.

He shouted down to Aitken, asking her to ‘chuck up” his phone.

She responded by going into a nearby flat, where he found Ingledow’s phone, brought it out on to the street and then threw it up to her co-defendant.

Mr Brown continued: “He then went back inside using the torch [on the phone] to look around.

“That was the limit of her involvement.”

Inside the flat, Ingledow stole a vaporiser, a bar stool, wireless headphones, and £93 in a container.

Kim Whittlestone, for Aitken, formerly of Highfield Avenue but now living in Dalbeattie, Scotland, said the defendant was “extremely remorseful.”

The barrister pointed out that Aitken was currently pregnant, and that medics had concluded that it was a “high risk” pregnancy.

She had been diagnosed with diabetes and was under the constant supervision of a midwife and having weekly injections.

The barrister pointed out that defendant had been categorised by the Probation Service as being a “low risk” of future reoffending.

Judge Michael Hayton QC told Aitken: “This is entirely out of character for you.

“You were in drink at the time and I’m satisfied you were led astray.”

As she left the dock, the judge said to Aitken: “Good luck with your pregnancy.”

The judge imposed a 12 month community order.

Ingledow, of Newtown Road, Carlisle, also admitted the burglary.

His barrister did not offer any mitigation as it was agreed that he should be sentenced only after a pre-sentence background report has been prepared on him.

The judge agreed that the Probation Service should prepare that report.

In the meantime, Ingledow was granted bail.

He will be sentenced on August 10.

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