100-year-old among vulnerable Slough people targeted by 'professional' family of burglars

Martin Stoakes, Patrick Cawley and John Cawley will serve up to 17 years in prison between them after breaking into several Slough homes in July and November 2020 and February 2021.

Sentencing, Judge Edward Burgess QC said: “I’m in no doubt you were targeting the homes of the vulnerable and the elderly.

“You are all seasoned and professional burglars in my judgement. There is nothing to distinguish between you.”

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What happened?

The string of burglaries began in July 2020 with Martin Stoakes, who also goes by the name of Martin Cawley.

The 43-year-old, of Branston Road, London, attempted to break into two homes in Slough.

After being confronted by the occupants of these properties, Stoakes fled.

He tried his luck at another Slough home and managed to steal a sapphire and diamond ring, a gold ring, and car keys.

Reading Crown Court.

In November 2020, John Cawley, who is Martin’s uncle, smashed the window of a Slough home and managed to gain entry.

Here, he stole £1,000 in cash -- but the DNA on the broken window later helped police to identify the 59-year-old.

And in February 2021, both Martin and John and 63-year-old Patrick Cawley (Martin’s dad and John’s brother) were involved in yet more burglaries.

At one property the trio managed to walk into a family’s home whilst they were present and steal a wallet.

They tried to burgle two other homes on the same day but despite gaining entry, were unable to take any items.

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Who were the victims?

The first people to suffer at the hands of this trio were a 78-year-old woman and her disabled 77-year-old husband, whom she cares for, after Martin Stoakes tried to break into their house in November 2020.

Upon hearing some banging, the woman bravely confronted Stoakes and he left.

She said she remained calm but after the police left following the incident she “couldn’t stop shaking.”

In a victim statement she said she was worried Stoakes would come back and that he would lock her away so she was unable to care for her husband.

Another victim from a different property Stoakes tried to burgle but did not said the incident made her “very cross”.

She said: “This has made me think twice about everything.

“It is sad I am this nervous in my own home.

“In fact, I keep a baseball bat behind my bed for protection now.”

Reading Crown Court

The woman at the heart of the November 2020 burglary committed by John Cawley echoed what other victims had said.

“I feel violated that somebody had been in my house and had been through all my belongings which are private and personal”, she added.

An attempted burglary carried out by all three in the family in February 2021 involved the men breaking into the home of a man and his 100-year-old mother, who has dementia.

Although the group did not take anything, the man said the incident had a “huge impact” on him and his mother.

He said: “I believe the shocking trauma of the incident has triggered memories from my mother’s early life which has stopped her from sleeping.

“Because of this, I have had periods where I have not slept for 72 hours.

“This has had a huge impact on my mental health.”

The other attempted burglary was at the home of a 92-year-old.

Prosecuting, Gerard Renout said: “These premises were targeted. These are elderly people.”

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What did the defence have to say?

Tom Blackburn said Martin Stoakes carried out the offences in “desperation”.

He added: “He finds it very difficult to obtain work let alone in a pandemic.”

Describing the February 2021 burglaries, Mr Blackburn said Stoakes had taken John and Patrick to see and old friend.

But he received a message which ordered him to pay for a debt on his car and “made a decision he was going to burgle houses to fund his debt.”

According to Mr Blackburn, Patrick Cawley asked to be taken to away and did not want a role in the burglaries.

But Stoakes refused and all three had a part to play in the events of that day.

Stoakes, who has 44 previous convictions for 122 offences, has become “institutionalised”.

“Crime is what he knows and how he gets by”, Mr Blackburn told Reading Crown Court.

Despite this, he was “remorseful” for his actions, the defence counsel claimed.

John Cawley was noted as having “total regrets” for his actions, while Patrick Cawley “held his hands up” for his part in the offences.

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What sentences did they get?

Sentencing, Judge Edward Burgess QC said these offences were “very serious”.

Addressing the defendants, who all appeared via video link from prison, he said: “This is far from the first time each of you has appeared before the criminal courts.

“All three of you have quite dreadful criminal records.

“I’m in no doubt you were targeting the homes of the vulnerable and the elderly.

“You are all seasoned and professional burglars in my judgement. There is nothing to distinguish between you.”

Stoakes, who was also sentenced for a driving offence, received a prison sentence seven years and three months long for his part in the July 2020 and February 2021 burglaries and attempted burglaries.

John Cawley, of no fixed abode, was handed a sentence totalling five years and three months for burglaries and attempted burglaries in November 2020 and February 2021.

And Patrick Cawley. of Bridge Road, London, was told he will be behind bars for up to four-and-a-half years for his part in the February burglaries and attempted burglaries.

Collectively, the trio will serve up to 17 years in jail.

The sentencing took place at Reading Crown Court on Friday, May 28.