AN INTRUDER who comprehensively trashed the home of a Whitehaven man during a burglary was motivated by "jealousy," a court heard.

Daniel Rafferty, 35, raided the house where his former girlfriend’s new partner lives, causing widespread damage which included splattering cleaning products across walls and furniture.

He also stole the man’s car keys, worth £500.

At Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Andrew Evans outlined the defendant’s wrecking spree, which he carried out on April 6, while the occupier of the house involved was working away.

Rafferty’s offending “mirrored” a similar burglary he had committed earlier at the home of his former partner, the court heard.

Mr Evans said: “The [victim] lived in Brakeside Gardens in Whitehaven and he was working away on April 6 when the defendant appeared at the door of one of his neighbours.”

The defendant asked a neighbour where the victim lived, and the house was duly pointed out to him.

Another neighbour noticed that there was somebody in the victim’s home, and knowing that the man was away, he called him. The following morning the victim’s mother arrived to check the property.

She discovered that downstairs window through which Rafferty had climbed was already boarded up. Inside the house, there was a scene of chaos. The damage included:

  • Shattered glass on the bathroom floor.
  • Bathroom toiletries strewn across the floor.
  • Pictures moved from the mantlepiece.
  • Sink unblocker poured onto the sofa and up the walls.
  • Fairy liquid sprayed on the walls and windows.
  • Artwork ripped from the walls.
  • Breakfast cereals poured onto the floor.
  • Wardrobe doors left open and beds disturbed.
  • Marks on the exterior of two windows.
  • And damage caused by efforts to get into the victim’s car.

The victim put the cost of repairing the damage at around £3,000. The only item that was stolen during the raid was the victim’s car kay, valued at £500.

Mr Evans continued: “[The victim] described the paranoia and having trouble sleeping due to the psychological impact of having had somebody inside his home causing damage.

“He believes the motive to be jealousy – he is in a relationship with the defendant’s former partner…and he states that the defendant had burgled her home in the same way in the past.”

The court heard that Rafferty was given a 40-week jail term for that offence in February but released on March 26. He carried out the Brakeside Gardens burglary eleven days later.

The court heard that the defendant’s criminal record comprises 23 previous offences, including thefts, criminal damage, an arson in 2023, as well as the previous burglary.

During that break in, the court heard, he had “left items around the house” to signal that he had been there. Mr Evans added that the offence was clearly targeted and planned “with malicious intent.”

Sean Harkin, defending, said the defendant’s mental health difficulties were a factor in his offending, causing him to act as he had. Those conditions included ADHD, personality disorder and depression.

Mr Harkin referred also to lengthy periods of time when the defendant had stayed out of trouble, suggesting that that something had “gone” wrong to set him on the path to offending again in 2023.

Judge Michael Fanning jailed the defendant, of Meadow Road, Whitehaven, for two years. He also approved a restraining order that will run for five years.