Burglar Steals Thousands From Charity That Saved Him From 'Freezing' To Death While Homeless

A burglar stole nearly £3,000 from a charity that helped him when he was homeless and sleeping rough in 'freezing' conditions.

Stephen McAleese was handed eight months behind bars after stealing thousands from Tidal, a small community organisation in Toomebridge that provides amenities and services to those in need, as well as assisting with medical appointments, accommodation and those seeking employment.

The 31-year-old actually accused the charity's secretary of stealing money from him. However, District Judge Nigel Broderick described the allegation as 'outrageous' in the hearing at Antrim Magistrates Court.

The charity helped the burglar when he was sleeping rough in freezing conditions. (Alamy)

The court heard how the secretary 'literally took' McAleese, from Ballydugennan Villas in Toomebridge, 'off a park bench one freezing February evening' and helped him get his other affairs in order.

'And then you make an outrageous allegation against her that she stole your money, totally unfounded and malicious,' the judge said, as reported by Sunday Life.

'Armed with some knowledge of where there is some cash, you proceed to break in and steal £2,800 and she felt personally obliged to pay that money back out of her own pocket.'

Tidal's office in Toomebridge. (@tidal_toome/Twitter)

McAleese broke into Tidal's office in December 2020 and stole £2,800, all of which is believed to have been spent on crack cocaine. The charity's secretary helped him regularly, even lending him money – but not before the initial amount was repaid.

This arrangement continued until McAleese raised his own allegations against her, but he plotted his theft after clocking an envelope full of cash in her office cupboard, the court heard. When she returned to work, the secretary discovered that not only had her office been broken into, but he'd punched a hole through the cupboard in order to grab the envelope and high-tail it with the cash.

His theft was quickly solved as McAleese injured himself when he broke in, cutting himself and leaving blood – and ergo, DNA – at the scene of the crime.

The burglar was slammed for 'breaching' the charity's trust. (Alamy)

When police arrested him and interviewed him about the missing money, he couldn't explain why his blood was in the office, but he did tell officers, 'Do I look like I have £2,800 – I’m skint!'

He maintained his innocence until the day of his trial, eventually confessing and entering an 11th hour guilty plea to burglary. According to his lawyer, Neil Moore, he found it difficult to accept his crime as he was so 'ashamed and disgusted'.

'It appeared that the entirety of the money went on crack cocaine; an awful waste of money but it shows you where his life was at the time,' he said.

McAleese has been freed on £500 bail pending an appeal of the sentence.

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