Sunderland burglar remanded in custody after breaching a curfew by leaving his home in the dead of night

Ross Sneddon, 31, was not tucked up in Gray Road, Hendon, Sunderland, when expected between 12.55am and 4am on Tuesday, April 14, electronic monitoring checks showed.

He has now been remanded into custody for what South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told was his third bail breach.

Conditions on his freedom were imposed after he was found guilty of breaking into a house occupied by a mother and daughter in Plains Farm, Sunderland, in 2018.

The crime saw him take a TV and he caused £780 of damage to a door, but he was seen fleeing the scene by the victims.

Sneddon pleaded not guilty at trial but was convicted by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court.

Under the terms of his bail, he was made subject to a 20-hour, 4pm to noon electronically monitored curfew.

However, at the magistrates’ court, prosecutor Lee Poppett said: “He left home during the curfew and returned home shortly before 4am.

“The police arrest him at his property. Checks showed the electronic equipment was working.”

The court heard Sneddon had breached his bail conditions on January 9 and February 21, both 2019.

It was also said he had committed 20 offences at times when subject to bail.

Tom Morgan, defending, said: “He says that he was home all the time. He tells me that the monitoring was faulty.

“He was told that somebody was going to be coming out to check the equipment.

“He’s caused himself a problem by being before the court. I ask that you give him one final opportunity to comply with his bail conditions.”

District Judge Sarah Griffiths said a check at 12.37am showed the electronic equipment was operational.

She added the monitoring company had also telephoned him during the period of the breach and the call had gone unanswered.

She said: “I’m satisfied that Mr Sneddon has breached his bail because he didn’t answer the call made to the property. That equipment was working.”

Sneddon was remanded in custody to a date to be confirmed.

He is due to be sentenced at the crown court on May 11.

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