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| Story of mystery burglar unravels | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A "desperate" man whose identity baffled police for weeks left his remote Moroccan village to find work illegally in the UK, a court heard. | |
| Hassan Ibrahimi paid £1,000 to a people trafficker to take him to France. He was dropped in a Carmartheshire village unable to speak English. | |
| He admitted burglary after breaking into a local house. He said he was looking for food and shelter. | |
| Llanelli magistrates adjourned sentence and he was remanded in custody. | Llanelli magistrates adjourned sentence and he was remanded in custody. |
| His solicitor Mike Reed told the court that it was "quite a unique case". | His solicitor Mike Reed told the court that it was "quite a unique case". |
| He said: "About two years ago there was an earthquake in the village where he lives. His home was destroyed and his parents were both killed and his brother. | He said: "About two years ago there was an earthquake in the village where he lives. His home was destroyed and his parents were both killed and his brother. |
| He said he was very sorry but he was desperate and did not know what else to do Catherine Collins, prosecuting | He said he was very sorry but he was desperate and did not know what else to do Catherine Collins, prosecuting |
| "He managed to get work in a cafe, where he also slept, earning the equivalent of £35 a week and he saved up that money. | "He managed to get work in a cafe, where he also slept, earning the equivalent of £35 a week and he saved up that money. |
| "Having lost everything, he decided to try and leave Morocco and come to France because the Berber language is similar to French." | "Having lost everything, he decided to try and leave Morocco and come to France because the Berber language is similar to French." |
| Mr Reed said he paid two million in the Berber currency - about £1,000 - to two men who said they would take him to France. | Mr Reed said he paid two million in the Berber currency - about £1,000 - to two men who said they would take him to France. |
| But after a three day journey by car and ferry, Ibrahimi was dropped off in Tycroes near Ammanford, in just the clothes he had on and with no money. | But after a three day journey by car and ferry, Ibrahimi was dropped off in Tycroes near Ammanford, in just the clothes he had on and with no money. |
| Not knowing where he was, Mr Reed said Ibrahimi made a den in a hedge, but when he became cold and hungry, he broke into a nearby house. | Not knowing where he was, Mr Reed said Ibrahimi made a den in a hedge, but when he became cold and hungry, he broke into a nearby house. |
| When he was arrested in September, police had no idea of his name, nationality or age, because they did not know what language he spoke. | When he was arrested in September, police had no idea of his name, nationality or age, because they did not know what language he spoke. |
| At the end of the interview he said he was very sorry but he was desperate and did not know what else to do Catherine Collins, prosecuting | |
| Only after a translator saw news reports about the case was it established that he lived in a remote village in the Moroccan mountains and spoke the Berber dialect. | Only after a translator saw news reports about the case was it established that he lived in a remote village in the Moroccan mountains and spoke the Berber dialect. |
| The court heard that between 21-24 September he broke into the same house three times, taking groceries, clothing, a sewing kit and a toothbrush. | The court heard that between 21-24 September he broke into the same house three times, taking groceries, clothing, a sewing kit and a toothbrush. |
| Prosecuting, Catherine Collins said on the first occasion the home-owner returned and saw a smashed window at his property and "to his surprise" Ibrahimi was in the house. | Prosecuting, Catherine Collins said on the first occasion the home-owner returned and saw a smashed window at his property and "to his surprise" Ibrahimi was in the house. |
| Police were called and he escaped through a window. | Police were called and he escaped through a window. |
| "When the home-owner returned the next day he noticed someone had been eating a meal and the bed had been slept in. " | "When the home-owner returned the next day he noticed someone had been eating a meal and the bed had been slept in. " |
| This time, police installed an alarm, which Ibrahimi triggered when he broke in again. When he was finally interviewed by police this week he told them he was "cold, desperate and had no choice." | This time, police installed an alarm, which Ibrahimi triggered when he broke in again. When he was finally interviewed by police this week he told them he was "cold, desperate and had no choice." |
| Ms Collins said: "At the end of the interview he said he was very sorry but he was desperate and did not know what else to do." | Ms Collins said: "At the end of the interview he said he was very sorry but he was desperate and did not know what else to do." |
| Ibrahimi believed he was 26 but did not know his date of birth. | Ibrahimi believed he was 26 but did not know his date of birth. |
| Mr Reed asked for a conditional discharge because of time spent in custody and said he would then be handed over to the immigration authorities, with the hope of finding emergency accommodation. | Mr Reed asked for a conditional discharge because of time spent in custody and said he would then be handed over to the immigration authorities, with the hope of finding emergency accommodation. |
| But magistrates said the offence was too serious and remanded Ibrahimi in custody until 17 November. Deportation papers were also served. | But magistrates said the offence was too serious and remanded Ibrahimi in custody until 17 November. Deportation papers were also served. |