A BURGLAR who targeted a small business in the middle of the night has been slammed for damaging his own community.

Earlier this week the Denbighshire Free Press reported how Jonathan Edwards, of Castle Hill in Denbigh, was sentenced at Mold Crown Court for burglary.

He was jailed for eight months.

The 47-year-old had entered Alison's Alterations in Denbigh as a trespasser on March 17 last year and stolen a steam iron, as well as a Regatta coat, worth £280.

Anna Price, prosecuting, told the court that in the early hours of the morning, under the influence of alcohol, Edwards smashed the shop window and climbed inside before taking the items and making off.

Following the sentencing 60-year-old Alison Ball, who has run the shop in Hall Square for six years, described the impact of the crime.

She explained: "I was told by one of the staff from a charity shop who was on her way to work and saw it.

"When she rang me, I just thought oh my God - I felt sick.

"When I got there I saw the devastation and I just asked why? What's the point?

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"My customers were shocked and really supportive.

"They asked why someone would break in somewhere like this where there's no stock they can really take to make a profit on."

Ms Ball said for a day and half after the incident, she had to turn customers away as police and forensics officers gathered evidence.

And she felt wary about him returning to the premises in the following days.

But Edwards was caught not long after the break-in, and the iron was recovered, as well as a coat.

"The police did a fantastic job," Ms Ball said. "They caught him straight away.

"I think it's disgusting that he lives a stone's throw away - he probably comes to town all the time and then to do this? People who do this kind of thing are damaging their own community and that's disgraceful."

As well as worries over whether customers would be happy to leave garments in the shop overnight, Ms Ball said she has been left to shoulder the cost of the crime.

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"Yes, he's been sentenced and gone to prison," she said. "But to me, I have to outlay the cost to get the window fixed and my blinds are still trashed and need replacing.

"And there were other things damaged in the shop."

Ms Ball encouraged other small businesses to take precautions to deter burglars, adding: "You never think it's going to happen to you.

"I've never had this happen to me, but then this break-in happened and devastation was left."