A NEWPORT burglar who deliberately targeted a profoundly deaf man in an "evil" act knowing he would not hear him breaking in to his home has been jailed.

Judge David Wynn Morgan said Samuel Mulligan, aged 24, of Clifton Place, had done "a very evil thing" after the court was told the defendant knew his victim personally and admitted to police he had targeted him as he knew he was deaf.

In a victim impact statement read out at Newport Crown Court at Mulligan's sentencing, the victim said he found the thought of the incident "terrifying" and said it was "a terrible betrayal of trust".

Mulligan had pleaded guilty to dwelling burglary on September 15.

The court heard at 6.15am on September 13 Mulligan broke into the one bedroom flat in Newport by climbing onto the roof and removing tiles before kicking his way through into the kitchen.

John Lloyd, prosecuting, said Mulligan then ‘ransacked’ cupboards, disconnected the television set in the living room and entered the bedroom where the victim was sleeping, unable to hear what was taking place in his home.

Mulligan then stole the mobile phone which was on the bedside cabinet, directly next to his sleeping victim.

By this point police had been alerted to the break in and arrived at the flat, and spotted Mulligan moving around inside.

At first they assumed he was the homeowner and asked him to open the front door, but Mulligan instead went out on to the balcony and climbed down.

There was a short chase and Mulligan was quickly detained by officers.

Police then broke into the flat where the victim was still asleep, and he cried when he was told what had happened.

The court heard after three police interviews Mulligan admitted breaking into the property, and told them he targeted the victim because he knew he was deaf.

The court also heard he knew his victim personally, a Newport man whom the Argus has chosen not to name due to his vulnerability.

In his victim impact statement he said: “The thought of him walking around my flat while I was asleep is terrifying. He could have killed me if he wanted to.

“This has been a terrible betrayal of trust. I cry sometimes when I think about it.”

He added he did not like to leave his home and had not slept properly since the incident.

Stuart McLeese, defending, said his client entered his guilty plea at the earliest opportunity; that he is ‘deeply ashamed’ of his actions, particularly as he considered the victim a friend; and that he had not deliberately gone to the victim’s home to target him.

He added that his client had a problem with alcohol.

Judge David Wynn Morgan told him: "The only sensible explanation for your behaviour is that you deliberately targeted your victim because you knew of his vulnerability. You knew he was profoundly deaf and would not hear you.

“You were caught red handed and will go to prison for four years.”

He added: “You have done a very evil thing.”

DC Andrew Williams from Gwent Police said: “This is a particularly disturbing crime where a man was targeted due to his vulnerability.

“I hope that the sentence given today deters others from committing such cruel offences against the most vulnerable members of society.”