the essential
A former construction contractor in the Valence-d’Agen sector, who fell into precariousness and drugs, justifies two burglaries by his need to eat. Already convicted nine times, the 30-year-old was sentenced to 18 months in prison before the Montauban judicial court, Friday December 6, 2024.
It had been “nearly two days since I had eaten anything,” explains Thomas B., a 33-year-old from Donzac, at the bar of the judicial court of MontaubanFriday.
Tall and slender, with a tail of hair tied to the top of his head and a full beard, this former construction company manager is appearing for two burglaries committed in Golfech and Goudourville. A passage to action that he justifies by the precariousness in which he finds himself. Already convicted of burglary, Thomas B. also faces prosecution for driving without a license as a repeat offender.
Formerly the head of a construction company founded with his father, this former plasterer saw his life turned upside down when he fell into drugs, a little over four years ago. Since his conviction in 2020 in a drug trafficking case, he seems unable to find his footing. At the time, he was sentenced to twelve months in prison for lending his vehicle to a trafficker.
Arrested in flag
On December 2, around 2:40 p.m., a resident of Golfech called the police: she had just surprised a man leaving her son’s house and fleeing behind the wheel of a van. A few hours later, the individual was located at a friend’s house in Valence-d’Agen, unloading the stolen items. Placed in police custody, Thomas B. quickly admitted the facts and admitted to also being the author of another burglary in Goudourville.
“I apologize to the victims,” he declared to the judges, ensuring that hunger was his only motivation. The court wonders. “There are also significant deteriorations among these individuals,” notes the president.
-It’s true,” concedes the defendant. The magistrate continues: “There were no other possibilities to feed you?
— Three days before, I had gone to my mother’s house in Lamagistère. I asked him if I could make myself a sandwich. She replied to me: “You can go and scratch yourself”, explains Thomas B., affirming that he had already spent his RSA.
On the stand, the victims are indignant. “I too live on RSA. Every day, I am careful to stick to my budget, but I have never stolen in my life to eat,” says a Golféchois who was robbed.
“There are associations to help people in need. This is not a reason to break everything,” adds a retiree from Goudourville, directly challenging the defendant: “When you are hungry, the first thing to do is to look for work.”
Parquet requires 25 months
With nine convictions on his criminal record and ignored summons to the sentencing judge, Thomas B. hardly inspires clemency in the vice-prosecutor. Jeanne Regagnon is demanding twenty months in prison with continued detention, as well as the revocation of five months of probation. A total sentence of twenty-five months.
“The one who attacked him as a child died recently. This has awakened old wounds,” argues his lawyer, Me Valérie Durand, recalling that her client facilitated the investigation.
The court was slightly less severe than the prosecution: Thomas B. was sentenced to fifteen months in prison, to which were added three months of revoked suspended sentences. In total, eighteen months in prison, which he must serve immediately.
