Carlisle man repaid Roman Catholic priest's charity by burgling his house

A burglar broke into the presbytery at a Roman Catholic church in Carlisle just a few weeks after being helped by the sympathetic priest there, a court heard.

Father Michael Murphy gave Peter Doran sandwiches and a drink when he turned up at his door saying he was homeless and had no money for food.

But the 35-year-old career criminal – who claims to be a devout catholic – repaid his “Christian charity” by returning with his girlfriend to commit the latest in his long list of offences.

At the city’s Crown Court, Judge Paul Batty QC said that what Doran had done was “absolutely disgraceful”.

He told him: “There are many of all denominations who help the poor, but they are not usually repaid for their Christian charity in the way that you repaid Father Murphy.”

After hearing that Doran now wanted to be forgiven, the judge jailed him for 27 months and told him: “You are going to have plenty of time for repentance.”

The court heard that Doran and his girlfriend Michelle Sewell, 28, were seen behaving suspiciously outside the Warwick Square church on the evening of July 17, while Father Murphy was away.

Raymond Morton, who lives opposite and is the keyholder, went to investigate and was met by the pair as they left the scene.

Doran had a bottle of the priest’s Martini in his hand, but dropped it when he saw Mr Morton.

Mr Morton did not challenge them – because “he is not in the first flush of youth,” prosecuting counsel Brendan Burke said.

But three days later he called the police when he recognised them as they returned to the church “to pray.”

Doran, of Briery Grove Morton, pleaded guilty to burglary, admitting that he had stolen the Martini and £40-worth of stamps after getting into the presbytery through an insecure window.

Sewell, of Botcherby Avenue, also admitted burglary, but only on the basis that she had acted as look-out while Doran was inside the house.

Her barrister Greg Hoare said she now realised that “the attachment she has formed with Mr Doran might not have been very advantageous from her point of view.”

She was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, and put under probation supervision for 12 months.

Sewell, who had more than 30 previous convictions, was also put under an 8pm to 7am curfew for the next five months.

Source