because it was so untidy
STUDENT'S flat was so untidy she did not realise she had been burgled for almost a week. Yi Wei, 24, could not find her pink Gucci purse when she looked in her room in the house she shared with another Chinese student and two British non-students on August 3.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, told Hull Crown Court: "The complainant didn't seem to be aware she had been burgled.
"A search of the room, with the aid of a friend, failed to recover it."
Recorder Kate Tulk said: "A typical student's room, if one can be forgiven for saying so. It sounded very familiar."
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The purse, which cost £300, contained Miss Wei's student ID card, £300, 200 euros, shop cards and photographs.
On August 8, Miss Wei also failed to find her mother's Chinese handbag, containing two boxed Swiss Army knives, which she wanted to post back to her.
She realised other items were missing, including an Yves Saint Laurent bag worth £350. Miss Wei also noticed paper balls had been placed in the lock on the door.
On September 6, Miss Wei stayed at a friend's home for the night and returned to her semi- detached property in Vermont Street, west Hull, the next day to find her flat in a "huge mess".
The court heard it was obvious she had been burgled.
Missing were a black Tory Burch handbag worth £400, a purple shoulder bag worth £200, another shoulder bag worth £90, as well as necklaces and bracelets.
Miss Wei did not know one of the burglaries had been carried out by one of her housemates, Robert Rogers, and the other two by one of his "associates", who has not been identified.
Rogers, 33, who admitted burglary and two counts of handling stolen goods, was caught after he was involved in a traffic accident.
He failed to stop and drove to a car park, where he was seen getting out of the vehicle in an "agitated state" and opened the door so forcefully he damaged another vehicle.
Police discovered "the bulk" of Miss Wei's missing property in the boot and he was arrested.
Rogers was convicted of the driving-related matters at Hull Magistrates' Court, where he was fined £173 for criminal damage and driving while disqualified and ordered to pay £300 compensation.
Hull Crown Court heard he had seven previous convictions for 21 offences, although he had stayed out of trouble since 2001.
Richard Thompson, defending, said Rogers had become depressed after the death of his grandmother and had been "self-medicating" by drinking alcohol.
He said it was hoped that "after this difficult period the defendant can return to a much more constructive and law- abiding lifestyle".
Rogers was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and must have six months of treatment for alcohol abuse.
He is still living in the house, while Miss Wei has since returned to China.
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I know students have a bad rep for bring dirty and untidy, but this really is unbelievable.
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