Published: 04/03/2010 09:02 -
Updated: 04/03/2010 11:21
HOUSING charity has joined Harlow Council in defending a housing project for young people after it was described in open court as a “dumping ground” and a “school for drugs”.
Solicitor James Howard told Chelmsford Crown Court that Jason Cranch had been bullied into embarking on a one-man crime spree while living at Occasio House, part of the Harlow Foyer in Playhouse Square
Cranch (22) was jailed for two-and-a-half years after he admitted burgling five homes in Harlow on October 18 last year.
Prosecutor Richard Stevens told the court that Cranch stole mobile phones, a digital camera, a laptop computer, a wallet, gold rings, cash and bottles of wine during the raids at properties in Abbotsweld, Wedhey, Taylifers and Seymours.
Police had to wake the 79-year-old female occupant of one of the properties to tell her that her home had been burgled after her belongings were found strewn across the neighbourhood.
But Mr Howard, who represented Cranch in court, said it was Harlow Council’s decision to refer his client to Occasio House that put the young roofer “between the Devil and the deep blue sea” and led him to develop a £200-a-day cocaine habit.
“His last offence before going [to Occasio House] was shoplifting and his one before that went back to 2007,” Mr Howard told the court. “It’s quite a leap from that level of offending to suddenly commiting five burglaries in one night.
“There has to be some reason, one being that he’s been placed in Occasio House. He’s a follower rather than a leader. There it is a question of going along with what everyone is doing or be bullied.”
Mr Howard said Cranch had been bullied into commiting the crimes by “social inadequates” living at the site.
But social regeneration charity East Potential, which is responsible for the day-to-day running of Harlow Foyer, and Harlow Council – one of the charity’s referral partners – reacted angrily to Mr Howard’s court outburst.
Andy Palmer, head of Foyer Services at East Potential said: “Eighty-one per cent of residents at our Har-low Foyer have moved on successfully to permanent housing, training and/or employment.
“We work closely with each resident to develop individual support plans that meet their personal, employment and education needs. This allows them to make positive changes to their lives so they can contribute to the community.
“We have a strong policy against drugs in all our foyers and remain vigilant by working closely with the police in monitoring and enforcing action against anyone caught using or dealing them.”
Councillor Lee Dangerfield, chairman of the council’s housing committee, added: “We are always disappointed when lawyers make unsubstantiated comments in court.”
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