Jail for hungry burglar who broke into house for food

Hamid El Majid, 23, of Elm Grove, and a friend clambered through the kitchen window of the house in Anson Road, Cricklewood, in the death of night.
Moroccan-born El Majid was tackled by the brave householder while his accomplice fled in a getaway car on November 30 last year. He claimed he had broken into the kitchen because the person who cooks for him was away, Harrow Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Emma Antonelli told the court the family who lived at the address were all asleep at the time of the raid. “It was a Sunday night and the family in the house noticed that a garage light had come on. As all the family had all gone to bed and it was none of them downstairs, they went to investigate and to their shock, in their kitchen were El Majid and another man. El Majid was detained by the family in the kitchen, but the other man ran away. The family chased him and saw him get into a silver car, which was driven away by another person.”
Police were called and arrested El Majid for burglary. Officers searched him and found a silver watch, which he admitted taking from a counter in the kitchen.
Miss Antontelli added: “El Majid told police he had been walking around the area with a friend, that he was hungry because the person he usually lives with and who feeds him was away. Why did he not eat something instead of taking a watch?”
Judge Freya Newbery jailed El Majid for eight months and ordered him to pay a £100 surcharge.