Bolton burglar smashed into vulnerable victims' homes

Karl Grundy, 48, launched “what can only be described as a campaign” in August, which began by breaking into the home of a man in his 70s, who was living on his own.

Bolton Crown Court heard how the elderly victim had been in bed at his home on Church Road, Smithills on August 9 when Grundy broke in.

Prosecutor Jane Dagnell said: “In the early hours of the night he was disturbed by a loud smashing noise.”

The elderly man was shocked to find blood on his inside door.

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Dressed in a grey t-shirt, grey jacket and glasses Grundy, of Halliwell Road, looked on via video link from prison as Ms Dagnell described the effect he had had on his victim.

Ms Dagnell told the court how since that night the man had been “very shaken up” and felt afraid in his own home.

Reading a statement from the man, she said: “When I go to sleep at night, I check to see if it is locked and every time I do this, I think about what happened.”

On the same night Grundy broke into another home, belonging to a woman in her 90s on Rawlyn Road, Doffcocker.

Again, he smashed his way in, through a conservatory window and left a blood stain behind.

Just days later, Grundy burgled a family on Baythorpe Street, Astley Bridge on the night of August 14.

Ms Dagnell said he walked in on a mother as she fed her infant son before escaping, apparently through a bathroom window, with a television, mobile phone, speakers and cash.

Grundy, who has 30 previous convictions for 55 offences, was finally arrested on August 30 and did not comment when interviewed by police.

Ms Dagnell pointed out that all three of Grundy’s victims had been vulnerable in some way.

She said she “cannot say with any certainty that he targeted them” but that it “seems a strange coincidence that those are three vulnerable people.”

Grundy eventually pleaded guilty to burglary and two counts of attempted burglary.

Katie Walden, defending, said that he had earned credit for his guilty plea and said though he could not remember the offences, having suffered with his mental health, wanted to apologise.

She said: “He says that he doesn’t remember committing the offences.”

She added: “He can’t speak much to the offence because of the circumstances he doesn’t have much memory of them.

But Ms Walden said that Grundy now wished to apologise for his actions.

She said: “He says today, ‘it should never have happened, I don’t know what possessed me.’”

But Recorder Nick Flanaghan reminded the court of the effect Grundy had had on his victims.

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He said: “You have got what can only be described as an appalling record.”

He added: This can only be described as a campaign, you smashed your way into their properties, both belonging to elderly victims living on their own.”

The third victim, Recorder Flanaghan said, was a mother feeding her infant child.

He said: “People are entitled to feel safe in their own homes.”

Recorder Flanaghan jailed Grundy for a total of four years and two months.