Burglary
Burglary is a complex criminal offence that involves elements of trespass and, in some cases, theft.
Our Burglary Solicitors will assist you in navigating police interviews, bail, and court appearances.
By instructing us, you will immediately feel reassured and confident that you have one of the most experienced and talented criminal law teams in Nuneaton and Warwickshire on your side.
We are a diverse, multi-lingual law firm based in Nuneaton. Our solicitors use advanced technology to provide clients with streamlined, modern, and highly effective criminal defence. Additionally, years of experience in criminal law have allowed us to build relationships with some of the UK’s best Barristers and King’s Counsel. Our clients also benefit from our ability to instruct the country’s most respected expert witnesses who can provide the Court with the facts required to support a not guilty plea or mitigate the sentence handed down by a Judge.
Advising and Representing People Accused of Committing a Criminal Offence
Based in Nuneaton, we are highly recommended as an expert criminal defence law firm for people accused of committing a crime. Our Nuneaton and Midland-based solicitors provide 24/7 police station representation. Therefore, we will be at your side, protecting your interests from the start. Because we understand the correct procedures the police must follow when making an arrest, we will carefully examine the circumstances surrounding your detention and work to get the charges dropped if proper processes were not followed.
Our criminal law team has in-depth experience in defending serious criminal charges, including burglary. We work with the country’s top expert witnesses and focus on providing you with advice and representation you can trust. We understand that your reputation, freedom, and financial security are at stake – therefore, we never give up until every appeal has been exhausted.
Common Questions About Burglary
What is Burglary?
Burglary, robbery, and theft are different offences, although they are sometimes used interchangeably.
Burglary involves entering a building as a trespasser with intent to steal, inflict grievous bodily harm, or do unlawful damage, or having entered the building as a trespasser, stealing, or attempting to steal, or inflicting or attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm.
To prove burglary, the Prosecution must show:
- You entered the building
- It was a building or part of a building
- You did so as a trespasser
- You intended to steal or inflict grievous bodily harm
Robbery involves stealing someone’s property with a degree of violence, i.e., A threatens B with a knife and demands B hand over their wallet.
Theft is where a person dishonestly takes property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it. For example, shoplifting involves depriving the store owner of items that, until sold, belong to them.
What is Domestic Burglary?
Domestic burglary is the burglary of a residential dwelling. It does not include the theft of property by someone who was entitled to be in the dwelling at the time of the offence (such as a guest or tradesperson); this falls under theft.
What is Aggravated Burglary?
Aggravated burglary occurs when a person commits burglary and has an offensive weapon in their possession at the time of the offence. The Prosecution must prove the elements of the burglary offence before any aggravating factors can be considered.
An offensive weapon is any object made, adapted, or intended to cause injury or incapacitate. Firearms, knives, baseball bats, and bottles filled with corrosive substances such as acid are examples of offensive weapons.
What is the Sentence if I am Convicted of Burglary?
Domestic burglary can be tried in the Crown Court and the Magistrates’ Court except in the following circumstances:
- The burglary was part of the commission of, or an intention to commit, an offence triable only on indictment, such as murder or rape
- Any person in the dwelling was subjected to violence or the threat of violence
- You have been convicted of burglary twice before
Aggravated burglary can only be tried in the Crown Court.
The maximum sentence for domestic burglary is 14 years’ imprisonment. If the burglary was committed in any other building apart from a dwelling, the maximum custodial sentence is 10 years.
Our Burglary Solicitors have the expertise and experience to present any mitigating factors to the sentencing Judge that may result in a reduced sentence.
Why Choose Us?
Regardless of the charges against you, you are entitled to a criminal defence. We do not judge our clients; our sole objective is to defend you against the Prosecution’s allegations. By instructing us to defend you, you can be confident that your chances of acquittal or a reduced sentence are greatly improved. The most important step is to contact us as soon as you become aware of the criminal charges brought against you.
Cocks Lloyd Solicitors provides exceptional Burglary and Criminal Law services to clients. People choose and recommend us not just in Nuneaton, Tamworth, Atherstone, Hinckley and Leicester, but across Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Leicestershire and the West Midlands, and the whole of the UK, because we get results.
To receive expert advice and representation regarding Burglary and Criminal Law, please contact us using the form below, call us on (0247) 6641642, email via the Request a Callback form on this contact page.