'Mate, please return my things by 2am and I won’t call the police'

A student texted a burglar after catching him as he left his flat, saying: “Mate, please return my things and I won’t call the police”.

Tommy Lloyd, 28, and an unknown woman had come across a slightly open window in a flat in the city centre, and took the opportunity to swipe an iPhone and virtual reality headset, costing over £1,000.

As he was leaving he was met by the flat-owner who asked what he was doing. Lloyd, of Birmingham, falsely told him that a friend was stuck in the building and he was trying to get them out.

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Believing Lloyd was armed with a knife, the student backed away, allowing Lloyd and the woman to leave.

The student later texted his own phone, that Lloyd had swiped, and said: “Mate, I understand your position please return my things by 2am and I won’t call the police.”

But he had already sold both the iPhone and gaming system to buy class A drugs, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Lloyd pleaded guilty to an offence of burglary and was sentenced to a community order.

Prosecuting, Matthew Todd said Lloyd and the woman were hanging around Collier Street on November 14 last year at around 10.30pm.

“The defendant accepts that he saw the window was slightly open and he pulled it further open and entered the flat for purposes of finding items he could sell for drugs,” Mr Todd said.

“He stole an iPhone 11 and a virtual reality headset worth £1,145.”

As the student returned, he questioned Lloyd who initially said he was helping a friend who was stuck inside. He then claimed that Lloyd put his hand in his pocket in an ‘intimidating’ manner, which made him think that he had a knife.

Lloyd denied this and said there was no knife and no threat.