The High Court has imposed a three-year concurrent sentence on a serving prisoner convicted of trespassing with intent to steal and resisting police arrest.
Vilikesa Delana was found guilty of a count each of aggravated burglary, attempted theft, giving false information to a public officer, and two counts of resisting arrest, committed on September 17, 2023.
In the company of others, Delana had entered the victim’s property to steal but vigilant and watchful neighbours heard sounds from the victim’s house, and suspecting something was amiss, called the police.
The victim, who was asleep on the ground floor, was awakened by his dog’s barking and also the movement of people on the upper floor.
Delana was seen by police attempting to jump off the fence of the victim’s property.
They tried to arrest him but he resisted by kicking, pushing, and shoving the officers.
When interviewed, Delana gave a false name.
Justice Bull said the commission of burglary in the company of others points to some planning, though not of a sophisticated or organised type.
“There is no evidence of the use of weapons or violence,” she ruled on July 25.
“Nothing was stolen, There was, however, damage to the door of the victim’s house.”
Delana is also serving a 10-year sentence.