A heartless son broke into his own mother’s house and stole her valuable gold watch.
Joe Dockerill trashed his family home in Chelwood Close, Brighton, during a burglary on August 4.
But the 22-year-old from Brighton was soon tracked down by police, who found his mother’s missing timepiece at his house the same afternoon.
Yesterday he pleaded guilty to one count of burglary dwelling and theft at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.
After the hearing, forgiving mother Tracy Ruse said reporting her own son to the police was “the hardest thing I’ve ever done”.
She said: “I have always stood by Joe because if he didn’t take drugs he’d be lovely.
“But he’s had chance after chance and this was the final straw.”
Suzanne Sorros, prosecuting, said ex- Patcham High School pupil Dockerill had “forced his way in” to the house when he knew no one was at home.
Once inside he “ransacked” the property, emptying drawers and cupboards in the living room and hallway.
When his mother returned, she found her gold watch had gone missing from her bedroom.
She alerted police, who raided Dockerill’s house and found the stolen property.
The court heard Dockerill, who has a 19-month-old baby son, had been homeless for more than a year and was “desperate for help”.
He had been “having difficulties with substance abuse” and was addicted to cocaine and ketamine.
In mitigation, his defence lawyer said the burglary had been “completely on impulse” and insisted no threats of violence had been made.
The case was adjourned until September 3.
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