Men sentenced for burglary at vulnerable victim’s home - Rickmansworth

Two men have been sentenced after pleading guilty to stealing jewellery during a Rickmansworth burglary.

Johnny Doherty, aged 23, of Tramway Avenue, Edmonton, London, appeared at St Albans Crown Court today (Monday 18 September) to be sentenced for the burglary which happened earlier this year.

Doherty (pictured above) previously pleaded guilty to burglary, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, and escape from lawful custody. He was recalled to prison ahead of today’s sentencing and has been in custody ever since. Today, he was handed a total custodial sentence of four years and two months.

Doherty’s accomplice was 20-year-old Patrick Hanrahan, of Bath House Close, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire. Hanrahan previously pleaded guilty to burglary and assault of an emergency worker. He was released on bail with strict conditions and was subject to electronic monitoring during that period.

Today, the judge ordered Hanrahan to complete 15 days of rehabilitation treatment and handed him a sentence of 16 months, suspended for two years.

The court heard how on Tuesday 20 June, Doherty and Hanrahan were caught red-handed by police as they ransacked a property in The Clump.

Officers from the Intervention team and Safer Neighbourhood Team responded to a call from an eagle-eyed member of the public, who reported seeing two men acting suspiciously around a property.

When the teams arrived at the location, they disturbed Doherty and Hanrahan in action. The pair made off from police but were quickly detained with the help of a Taser. A PCSO and a PC were assaulted during the arrest, however they required no medical treatment.

Following his arrest, Doherty was taken to hospital for a medical assessment. However, he left the hospital site before being detained again by officers a short time later.

Stolen jewellery was later recovered and returned to the elderly victim.

Detective Constable Vanessa Gottmann, who investigated the incident, said: “We are pleased that both Doherty and Hanrahan pleaded guilty to this offence, which was committed against a vulnerable member of the community, and they have now been sentenced for their crime.

“Again, we’d like to thank the member of the public who called us when they spotted suspicious behaviour. They trusted their instincts which enabled us to respond immediately and prevent someone becoming a victim of crime. If you think you’re witnessing a crime in progress, always call it in on 999.”

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