A thief broke into a woman’s home and hung out her clothes, put away her shopping and emptied the recycling bin – before leaving a creepy note.
Damian Wojnilowicz, 36, has been jailed for 22 months for carrying out the unusual robbery in Monmouthshire, Wales, on July 16.
The victim said she was too afraid to stay in her own home after she returned from work and discovered an intruder had moved her belongings.
Wojnilowicz also left a note saying: “Don’t worry, be happy, eat and scratch.”
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard that bird feeders in the garden had also been refilled and pots moved.
Inside the house, a pair of shoes had been removed from their packaging and then placed in the recycling bin.
Have you had a similar experience? Email olivia.christie@mailonline.co.uk
Damian Wojnilowicz, 36, has been jailed for 22 months for carrying out the unusual robbery in Monmouthshire, Wales, on July 16.
Prosecutor Alice Sykes said a meal had been cooked on the stove using items from her cupboard.
The groceries had been taken out of a bag and placed in the refrigerator, which was then rearranged and the recycling bin emptied.
The kitchen utensils were placed in the container and the new ones from the shopping bag were placed.
The toothbrush heads had also been replaced and the floor had been cleaned, leaving out a mop and bucket.
The victim saw that there was a bottle of red wine next to a glass and a bottle opener, and there was a bowl of sweets on the living room table.
She then spoke to her neighbor, who described seeing someone hanging out her clothes.
A second burglary took place at a different property on July 29 when the homeowner received a CCTV alert on his phone showing Wojnilowicz walking down the driveway.
The accused used the shower of a summer house to wash and clean his clothes.
Food and drink had also been consumed and the jacuzzi had also been left dirty.
The victim asked his son-in-law to come to the property and the defendant appeared to be drunk and was holding a glass.
They asked him to leave and he did, but the thief was later arrested. His DNA was found in fingerprints on the first property he stole.
In a victim personal statement, the first victim said: ‘Two weeks after the crime, until he was caught, he was living in a state of intense anxiety that he had never experienced before.
Pictured: Cardiff Crown Court where the thief was sentenced
“I was wondering if it was someone who knew me, if it was going to turn into a stalking incident, if they knew I lived alone and if I had been a target.”
‘I was too scared to stay in my own house and stayed with a friend. When I returned home I was accompanied by my daughter because I was too afraid to go alone. My two daughters came the next day to check on me and reassure me.’
The court heard the first victim was planning to move house and was “hyper-aware” about safety. The second victim said he felt “sick, horrified and worthless” when he realized the robbery.
Wojnilowicz, who had no fixed address, later pleaded guilty to two counts of theft. The court heard he has four previous convictions for offenses including common assault, public order offenses and failing to surrender.
In mitigation, Tabitha Walker said her client was homeless at the time of the offenses and was experiencing a number of difficulties.
He said the defendant apologized to the victims and for the harm he had caused them.
Passing sentence, Recorder Christian Jowett said: “This was a significant intrusion into their homes.”
He sentenced Wojnilowicz to a total of 22 months in prison at Cardiff Crown Court.
