Lags say burglars should be given harsher prison sentences

BURGLARS deserve harsher sentences, say their fellow jailbirds.

Three quarters reckon judges are too soft on them.

Raiders who target houses where kids live should be especially punished, according to a prison newspaper survey.

Noel Smith, 55 — editor of Inside — asked prisoners to give their verdict on burglars after remarking how they appeared to not be reviled behind bars.

His poll got 175 responses — 75 of them from inmates serving time for break-ins.

ADT spokeswoman Gail Hunter said: "Most burglars appeared concerned to know how much hurt they might have caused, and this was one of the purposes of the exercise.

"It shows we can help prevent re-offending by leading burglars to see the real effects of targeting a family home."

However, nine in 10 said they would feel guilty if they knew that any children had been left traumatised by their crimes.

Sentencing guidelines allow for judges to take the impact on children into account when sentencing domestic burglars if they are at home or arrive home during the burglary.

They should also assess whether there has been ‘trauma to the victim, beyond the normal inevitable consequence of intrusion and theft’.