Man Who Stole Wedding Ring During Burglary is Jailed for 32 Months

Delroy Wallace intended to steal from a home. This happened on March 23, 2023, the judge learned. He stole a wedding ring and engagement ring, and he also took a guitar worth about £2,000 new.

Monique Manners-Smith returned home on that same day. She found glass scattered in her kitchen, as the living room window was smashed, too.

A brick was in the garden; Wallace’s DNA was later found on it.

The prosecutor, Sarita Basra, said this happened in Wokingham.She called it a messy search of Manners-Smith’s house. Wallace, from Woodley, intended to steal, Basra stated.

Wallace sold the guitar and a camera quickly at a London cash exchange the next day. He got £260 for the items.

Adam Williams defended Wallace in court. He noted Wallace’s long history of convictions, stating Wallace has been in and out of prison since 1985.

This cycle had “clearly not worked” for Wallace.

Williams stated this was Wallace’s longest time out of prison. He also said Wallace committed no new crimes afterward. Williams called the burglary “opportunistic.”

Williams asked the judge to give Wallace one last chance so Wallace could prove he could stay crime-free. He requested exceptional circumstances for his client.

Judge Anthony Dunne addressed Wallace. He said Wallace relapsed into old habits that day.

Wallace smashed a window while the family was out. He intended to find valuable items to steal.

He took jewelry and a camera from the home. Wallace sold the camera at a London shop the next day. This transaction is how police caught him.

Wallace lied to the police during questioning and claimed he got the items from his dealer. The court jailed Wallace for 32 months for burglary and theft. He was also convicted of handling stolen goods.