Teenager jailed after breaking into pensioner’s home blames company director who stabbed him previously in self-defence

By
Rebecca Evans

Last updated at 12:02 AM on 28th December 2011

After his previous experience of crime, you’d have thought he’d have chosen the straight and narrow.

Josh
Hasler was left seriously injured when he was stabbed by a man who ran
out of his house to find Hasler’s gang of yobs attacking his stepson.

Two years later Hasler still hasn’t changed his ways – last week he was jailed for burglary.

'Remorse': Joshua Hasler, 19, who was jailed for burgling the home of an 80-year-old woman in Crowthorne, Berkshire. His barrister told a judge he was 'still tormented' by injuries inflicted by company director Colin Philpott

‘Remorse’: Joshua Hasler, 19, who was jailed for burgling the home of an 80-year-old woman in Crowthorne, Berkshire. His barrister told a judge he was ‘still tormented’ by injuries inflicted by company director Colin Philpott

Hasler, 19, admitted breaking into the home of 80-year-old Jill Bright as she slept.

He
and a friend, Thomas Justice, 20, stole Mrs Bright’s television, purse
and car, described as an invaluable ‘lifeline’. They later set the
vehicle on fire.

During
the hearing, at Reading Crown Court, Hasler tried to justify burgling
Mrs Bright – who lived alone – by claiming he was ‘still tormented’ by
the injuries he suffered two years ago.

He
ended up in hospital with a punctured lung after businessman Colin
Philpott stabbed him five times as he tried to protect his wife’s son,
Alex Lee, from Hasler and his gang in July 2009.

Mr
Lee had rushed out of the family’s home in Crowthorne, Berkshire, when
he saw a group of yobs kicking in the panels of his stepfather’s work
van.

Colin Philpott stabbed Joshua Hasler with a letter opener when he caught him damaging his home. Here he attends Hasler's court appearance

Colin Philpott stabbed Joshua Hasler with a letter opener when he caught him damaging his home. Here he attends Hasler’s court appearance

They kicked him to
the ground,  leaving him with concussion and a broken nose. He was only
rescued when Mr Philpott was woken by the commotion and ran out to try
and help him.

Hasler,
of Sandhurst, Berkshire, was given an 18-month conditional discharge for
battery and criminal damage after the attack – but it appears he has
not changed his ways.

At
the burglary hearing last week, prosecutor Jane Davies said: ‘Both the
defendants  later told a friend that they  had robbed a lady’s home and
they thought she was awake at the time.’

Hasler’s
defence counsel, Christopher Hogg, said the teenager was still troubled
by the injuries caused by Mr  Philpott, now 60. Mr Hogg said: ‘He was a
victim of a stabbing in 2009. He suffered five stab wounds and a
punctured lung. He still finds difficulty in dealing with it. He won’t
speak to doctors.’

But
Judge Mary Jane Mowat ignored his excuse and on Friday jailed him and
Justice, of Wokingham, Berkshire, for 16 months for the March burglary.

She
said: ‘You burgled the home of a lady of 80 at night and you were aware
she was there. To lose her car must have been devastating for someone
who relies on it more than a younger person.

‘The
aggravating features are that it was at night, the concealed evidence
and the burning of a car.’ Both admitted the single charge of burglary
at a previous hearing.

They will serve half the sentence in prison and the remainder out on licence.

Last night Mr Philpott, who runs a contract cleaning company, said he was surprised the teenager was still offending.

He
said: ‘It is just such a shame that he doesn’t seem to have learned
anything from his previous brushes with the law. It is his parents who I
feel sorry for in this situation. To have a son sent to jail at
Christmas-time must be hard to bear.’

Mr
Philpott was arrested at the time of the attack on suspicion of
attempted murder, but was exonerated by the Crown Prosecution Service,
which said he was acting in self-defence.

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

” He assures me he is remorseful”. Until the next time he breaks into someone’s home and steals their belongings. Pity he wasn’t jailed for 16 years!

He “was short of money” but yet had enough for booze and drugs. The guy is a predator.

Britain needs a three strikes and then 25 years jail policy. No ifs, buts or any other excuses. That would focus the minds of these feral people.

So HE goes and torments the vulnerable ……. with whom he SHOULD commiserate!!!! Big man! Hope he rots

Part of the generation brought up to believe that they are owed everything they want, and have rights but no responsibilities. In other words, if they want something they should have it and if they do something wrong it is always someone else’s fault

Tough…no one cares about people you except the bleeding heart brigade and it’s their fault we are in this mess in the first place, with their soft, namby, pamby justice.
The misery slugs like him bring to the innocent is far worse than his own self inflicted torment.
Get over it…i’m sure none of us will give you another thought.

Unprincipled, uncaring, lying, cowardly SCUM, that’s what Hasler is! “Oh, I’m so traumatised by getting stabbed on another burglary I just had to rob a defenseless elderly lady” Unbelievable!!!

To target old people who cannot defend themselves is cowardly and indefensible.

No rush to find the key for this lowlife!

The previous incident should have taught him a lesson… I feel for the elderly lass it will take her longer to recover knowing some reprobate was in
Her house as she slept…. Again, a feeble sentence… This country is pathetic… Just don’t be a victim of crime… There is no justice.

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