A RETIRED Hayle PC whose home was raided while he was on holiday has spoken of his anger after three men linked to the crime were sentenced.
The trio walked free from court last week after £20,000 worth of jewellery was stolen from Clive and Susan Polkinghorne's house at Hayle Terrace, despite one of the offender's "appalling" criminal record.
The couple were cruising the Mediterranean in August last year when they learnt intruders had ransacked their house and stolen about 80 items including jewellery, coins and medals.
On Wednesday last week at Truro Crown Court, Daniel Penrose, 23, of North Roskear Village, Camborne; Graham 'Sammy' Davies, 24, of Kenwyn Mews, Truro; and Jason James Wilson, 24, of Roseland Parc, Camborne, denied burglary but pleaded guilty to handling stolen property.
They were each given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with 12 months' supervision.
Now Mr Polkinghorne, 65, who is also a Hayle town councillor, said: "I would have been more than happy to meet them one to one.
"But we were away so to receive this in the middle of the Mediterranean when you can't talk to anybody about it, you can only imagine how we felt.
Sentimental
"In addition to the jewellery, we lost items of sentimental value such as my son's birth tag, his wedding invitation and his first shoe.
"I don't feel frightened by it but my wife has been affected and won't stay at home alone when I am away."
Mrs Polkinghorne added: "I am very disappointed that this is the best the British justice system can do."
Sally Daulton, for the Crown Prosecution Service, told the court a watch and two coins had been sold at a Redruth antiques shop.
She also revealed that Penrose had 24 previous convictions for 47 offences, 17 of them theft.
Defence counsel Jo Martin said Penrose, who claimed to have been involved as a courier, was turning his life around.
Davies, the court heard, had two previous convictions for theft. For the defence Curtis Lewis said he had lost his job when he admitted his part in the handling but had also given up drugs and sought treatment and counselling voluntarily.
Joss Ticehurst, for Wilson, said he was no longer on drugs and had found employment.
Sentencing, Judge John Neligan acknowledged Penrose's "appalling" record and Davies' history and spoke of the shock the owners suffered.
