Fulwood Burglary Leaves Young Girl Traumatised and Hiding Her Toys

A Fulwood family has detailed the heartbreaking reality of a residential burglary that has left their young daughter so traumatised that she has begun hiding her toys under her bed to keep them safe from intruders.

The break-in occurred on March 23, 2023, at a home in Fulwood, Preston, while the father was working a night shift. His partner and their young daughter were asleep upstairs when 31-year-old Adam Chamberlain smashed through the property's patio doors to gain entry. Chamberlain targeted a home safe, stealing old iPhones, family passports, and collectible coins. In his haste, the burglar cut himself, leaving blood stains throughout the ground floor of the house.

In a moving victim impact statement read at Preston Crown Court, the father described the devastating psychological toll the incident has taken on his family. He explained how his young daughter is now constantly fearful of another break-in, prompting her to hide her favourite toys under her bed. The family's sense of security has been so shattered that the father has had to stop working overtime to remain at home, and the family is actively looking to move house. Furthermore, his partner now refuses to stay in the property alone on the nights he does work.

Chamberlain pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to 17 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of rehabilitation activity. The court heard that Chamberlain had shown genuine remorse and had a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, though the judge acknowledged the long-lasting harm caused to the victims' peace of mind.