This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/6110016.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Story of mystery burglar unravels | Story of mystery burglar unravels |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A "desperate" man whose identity baffled police for weeks left his remote Moroccan village to find work illegally, a court heard. | A "desperate" man whose identity baffled police for weeks left his remote Moroccan village to find work illegally, a court heard. |
| Hassan Ibrahimi paid £1,000 to a people trafficker to take him to France. But he was dropped in a Carmarthenshire village unable to speak English. | |
| He admitted burglary after breaking into a local house. He said he was looking for food and shelter. | 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. | Mr Reed said he paid two million in the Berber currency - about £1,000 - to two men. |
| But after a three-day journey by car and ferry, Ibrahimi was dropped off in Tycroes near Ammanford. | But after a three-day journey by car and ferry, Ibrahimi was dropped off in Tycroes near Ammanford. |
| Ibrahimi did not know where he was when he was dropped in Tycroes | Ibrahimi did not know where he was when he was dropped in Tycroes |
| Without any money, he initially made a den in a hedge, but when he became cold and hungry he broke into a nearby house. | Without any money, he initially made a den in a hedge, but when he became cold and hungry he broke into a nearby house. |
| When arrested in September, police had no idea of his name or nationality, as they did not know what language he spoke. | When arrested in September, police had no idea of his name or nationality, as they did not know what language he spoke. |
| 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. |
| Prosecuting, Catherine Collins said he broke into the same house three times, taking groceries, clothing, a sewing kit and a toothbrush. | Prosecuting, Catherine Collins said he broke into the same house three times, taking groceries, clothing, a sewing kit and a toothbrush. |
| On one occasion the owner came home and found him but he escaped through a window. | On one occasion the owner came home and found him but 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," Ms Collins said. | "When the home-owner returned the next day he noticed someone had been eating a meal and the bed had been slept in," Ms Collins said. |
| Police installed an alarm, which was triggered when he broke in again. When finally interviewed by police via a translator, he said he was "cold, desperate and had no choice". | Police installed an alarm, which was triggered when he broke in again. When finally interviewed by police via a translator, he said 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. |
| He was remanded in custody until 17 November. Deportation papers were also served. | He was remanded in custody until 17 November. Deportation papers were also served. |