A tearaway teen who has been in and out of Brighton Magistrates Court since he was 13 spent his 18th birthday in the dock today.
Harris Bunch admitted burgling a house in Walpole Road, Brighton, and attempting to burgle the house next door on the same night last March.
The court heard he has a string of convictions for similar offences.
Prosecuting, Melanie Wotton said: “At the time, Harris Bunch was a youth. He has a number of previous convictions for dwelling burglary where he attended premises and has stolen many high value vehicles.
“These offences happened overnight and while residents were present in that property and motor vehicles were stolen.
“This would usually be a matter you should commit to the crown court for sentence. But in light of his age you may feel it’s appropriate to agree for a report to be produced outlining all sentencing options.”
Bunch’s solicitor, Oliver Mackrell, who has defended him since he was 13, agreed. He said: “My client was 16 at the time. He may be an adult now, but he still should be very much considered as a youth.
“These are serious offences and there’s a background of like offending. He has ADHD and autism, emotional issues from a very difficult childhood.
“More information should be put before the court.”
The bench, chaired by Alison Musker, agreed, and arranged a new sentencing date at Brighton. However, Bunch himself then addressed the court, asking if the hearing could be held elsewhere.
He said: “I have seen two people who used to know me today and one came up to me specifically. It’s quite risky me being in the area of Brighton because I have got a bunch of people after me.”
Bunch grew up in Whitehawk but has since moved elsewhere in Sussex.
The court agreed to find a date at a different court for him to be sentenced in June.
No strange thing that you will have people looking for you if you go round burgling houses. Agrivated burglary’s with previous and he walks away on bail.
Falling into the wrong crowd exemplified here. I suspect there is more to his activities than just burglary.
Sad that the victims of this scumbag see that he’s given bail and can carry on with his activities.
His parents should be imprisoned for bringing this filth among us
Can’t always blame the parents for the actions of their children, especially once they are adults. We, collectively, as a society, have failed this person growing up.
Your opinion would change if he’d burgled your house and trashed your property.
You liberal types are truly sickening – or are you just a troll trying to wind people up?
Oh Helen, if only you knew. My opinion is one tempered from working with quite a few individuals in less-than-ideal circumstances, and that perspective has changed my opinion from, one similar to yours of righteous indignation, to one of understanding that there is more than one factor at play in the majority of cases.
So no, I’m not one to put things into black and white, because it’s rarely the case. Trying to reduce it to such is minimalistic. It’s not an attempt to wind you up – it seeks you to consider, for a moment, that this person wasn’t born a criminal; Things happened in his life that made him this way, and course correction, however, that looked like, if at all, for this individual, has not worked.
So again, I stand by my comment. Society has failed him. You and I? We share some of that burden.
I accept your point that society has its roll to play but so does he.
His decision to carry out crime are his responsibility, he has free will, and he needs to understand that with that comes responsibility. He is part of the society you speak of and his actions, like yours and mine, carry consequences.
It’s not good enough simply to wave it away as society has failed him.
It seems he’s been given ample opportunity to address his behaviour
but maybe he simply doesn’t wish to.
On the other hand maybe he doesn’t understand the concept of responsibility in which case he needs some form of therapeutic intervention. If it’s the former then learning the hard way might be necessary. So don’t dismiss it out of hand.
Well put Steve, and absolutely agree with that. Responsibility for his own actions should also apply, I’m sorry I didn’t make that clear. It certainly does not absolve him of his crimes, but understands where rehabilitation efforts should be centred around, and preventative measures we can all take to reduce the chances of more individuals following the same path.
You don’t know pepoles stories so keep your mouth shut
You don’t know know pepoles stories you have no right to call anyone filth for all you could know that child could have been groomed and exploited and forced to do the things he did so keep out of it
Let’s not forget the sexual targeting of 12 year old girls eh !! Yet he continues to get away with it .
The Victorians really did have the right idea about this sort of thing, send them off to a colony or make them work hard labour in prison.
Jail him.
You know what, it’d be a more stabilising environment if his home life is chaotic enough to allow multiple incidents to happen unresolved. The only problem is that incarceration tends to create more severe criminal behaviours as well.
His so called parents should be jailed. He obviously never stood a chance.
Keep your opinions to yourself