This Is Guernsey

ALL nine jurats yesterday cleared Wesley Ceillam of burgling his grandmother’s tenants’ home.

But the 28-year-old is still facing a prison sentence after being found guilty by a 6-3 majority of the alternative charge of being found guilty of trespassing with the intent to steal.

Ceillam had been accused of breaking into Roy and Mary Holland’s home on 2 April and taking a 300ml bottle of liquid morphine.

Judge Russell Finch, presiding in the Royal Court, adjourned sentencing for probation reports. He warned Ceillam that a custodial sentence was likely after taking into consideration his past record.

In April 2005, Ceillam was sentenced to 26 months’ imprisonment after admitting burglary and grievous bodily harm.

‘An immediate custodial sentence is a very real likelihood. The question of custody will be very much the first thing on the mind of the court,’ said Judge Finch.

It heard that Ceillam’s fingerprint was on a pharmacy bag found by police after the break-in at the Hollands’ home.

Tests also found four other sets of prints on it. Three were insufficient for comparison and police did not have a match for the other.

But it was not until 4 April that police discovered the bag that had reportedly contained the morphine.

However, there were no prints on it good enough for analysis.

Ceillam’s advocate, David Domaille, had argued that the evidence being put forward by the prosecution was too circumstantial.

He pointed out that the result of one set of fingerprints was still outstanding and could have belonged to the burglar.

He also added that while Ceillam’s fingerprints were found on a pharmacy bag, they were not found on the one from where the morphine was taken or around the window area which had been forced open to gain access.

The court also heard how Mr Holland used to give Ceillam lifts in his car from time to time as a favour to his landlord.

Advocate Domaille said there was a good possibility that one of these coincided with a trip to the pharmacy to pick up his wife’s medication.

Advocate Chris Dunford, prosecuting, argued that was not the case.

Mr Holland, who gave evidence on the first day of the trial, said there would never have been an occasion when he would have given Ceillam a lift at the same time as picking up the medication.

He said he only did that with her in the car.

Mr Holland added that Ceillam had also never been inside their home since he and his wife had moved into it.

Ceillam was granted unconditional bail until he comes back to court to be sentenced.

Article posted on 20th February, 2008 - 2.29pm