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Pair fined for 'nasty' war medals theft

December 03, 2009

THIEVES who broke into an elderly woman’s house and stole her father’s war medals have been condemned for their “nasty” behaviour.

Sentencing 19-year-old James Uphill, from Mytchett, and 23-year-old Aaron Beagle, from Farnborough, to 150 hours' community work, district judge Roger House told them they had not given any thought to how the theft would affect the owner of the property.

The victim, who suffers from dementia and now lives in a nursing home in Aldershot, would have been left devastated at the loss of her father’s medals had she understood what had happened, the judge said.

Aldershot Magistrates’ Court heard that on October 25 the defendants broke into what appeared to be an abandoned house in a state of disrepair in Empress Avenue, Farnborough.

Uphill took medals, a walking stick and a typewriter and Beagle took a walking stick and some Belgian francs.

Witnesses saw two men coming out from behind the house carrying items, the police were called and they were arrested.

Speaking in Uphill and Beagle’s defence, Steve Hudson said they had no idea why they had taken the items.

“It was an impulsive action,” he said. “The males wanted to urinate. They went behind the wall of a house. They saw the house was in disrepair.

"They thought they would look round the house. It wasn’t their intention to steal anything.”

Mr Hudson said the theft had serious consequences for Beagle, who, because of this conviction, will not be accepted by the Royal Marines.

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lol.. You Muppet it is an 'abandoned' 'derelict' house I.E no one lives there (its the ghost house of Farnborough) we didn't really know what we had took because it was dark and as it has been abandoned n rotting away for ages we didn't think ne 1 would really care that we went in there. we didn't go in there 'looking' for war medals it was near Halloween n seemed like a laugh to go inside. As for the royal marines.. i will still be joining and fighting for my country unfortunately it will take me 2 years until they accept me now but i will continue to train for it n i will get in! Also im in full time work and have been for a long time on a good wage so il pass on the benefits.. get your facts right.

ajb99, farnborough
9/12/2009 at 19:28

Sentencing 19-year-old James Uphill, from Mytchett, and 23-year-old Aaron Beagle, from Farnborough to community work, Frighten to death an old lady and just get a community order.