Woman heroically detains burglar in bedroom and holds him until police arrive

Jailed: Israa Sigola pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to six months
Central News
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A woman heroically detained a burglar after waking up to find the thief standing over her bed and clutching her possessions, a court heard.

Martha Voulakidou came face-to-face with thief Israa Sigola as he was caught red-handed stealing valuables including her laptop.

When the 30-year-old burglar dropped his loot and turned to flee, Ms Voulakidou grabbed hold of Sigola and detained him until police arrived.

At Snaresbrook crown court on Wednesday, Sigola was jailed for six months for the raid on Ms Voulakidou’s home in Islington. He carried out the burglary on June 28, just a month after being given a community order for stealing laptops and iPads in a break-in at an electronics shop.

Judge Oscar Del Fabbro told him: “You have let everyone down, including yourself. You can imagine what it must be like to wake up with a complete stranger in your bedroom, particularly if you are female, with them standing over your head with their possessions.”

Prosecutor Usha Shergill said Sigola used an open window to get into the home at around 8am while Ms Voulakidou was still asleep.

“She was woken up by a rattling noise inside the flat,” she said. “She woke up and saw Mr Sigola standing by her bed by the window.“

She challenged him about what he was doing in the flat, and saw he had a number of items in his hands, including her laptop. He dropped the items and tried to walk away.”

The court heard that after a short scuffle, Sigola pleaded with the homeowner to let him go and not call police, saying he was homeless.

His barrister, Kathy Hirst, said Sigola was put into care at the age of seven when his parents were hooked on drink and drugs, and that he has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

He said other drug users had taken over his own home and forced him out, leading to him sleeping on the streets.

“He didn’t expect anybody to be at home, the window had been left open,” she said of the burglary.

“She seemed to do a good job of confronting him. When confronted he didn’t try to respond with violence.”

Sigola, from Islington, pleaded guilty to burglary.

He was jailed for six months and ordered to pay a £122 court fee.

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