Judge halts sentencing after seeing defendant has 26 different dates of birth

The judge said he was not prepared to sentence the defendant until he knew his true age and demanded he attend court and confirm his age on oath

A judge told a defendant he must attend court and go into the witness box to testify on oath as to his true date of birth.

Anthony Maughan was due to be sentenced for a spree of burglaries of cafes, restaurants, and shops across Swansea, Neath, Bridgend and Cardiff, but the judge said he was not prepared to pass sentence on a “persistent offender” with 26 different dates of birth recorded on his antecedent record without knowing his true age.

The judge adjourned the hearing and ordered Maughan, who was appearing in court via a videolink, to be brought to court in person so he could go into the witness box.

Matthew Comer, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that over an 18-day period in January and February this year Maughan burgled 10 business premises, namely the Giggling Squid restaurant, a Tesco Express shop, Castle Welsh Crafts shop, Total Asia restaurant, and Cote Brasserie – all in Cardiff – Costa Coffee in Bridgend, Kumar Stores in Neath, and an Aldi supermarket, Fresco Cafe, and Green Room restaurant all in Swansea.

The barrister said that over the same period Maughan also committed theft from a vehicle, an offence which saw him entering the cab of a lorry while the driver was making a delivery in Cardiff.

The court heard that a number of burglaries saw the defendant entering staff only areas while the businesses were open, but that on a number of occasions he had forced entry to premises through rear doors or fire exits while they were closed.

For each of the 10 burglaries Maughan was identified from CCTV footage. For the latest court stories sign up to our crime newsletter

Among the haul of items stolen by Maughan during the spree were bank cards, North Face jackets, keys, iPhones, meats and cheeses, bottles of Johnnie Walker whisky, Smirnoff vodka, and champagne, and a pair of new Adidas trainers.

He also took various quantities of cash.

Anthony Paul Maughan, of no fixed abode, had previously pleaded guilty to 10 counts of non-dwelling burglary and one count of theft from a vehicle when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.

Judge Huw Rees said that, looking through the defendant’s antecedent record, it was clear he was a “persistent offender” and he noted that over the years he had provided 26 different dates of birth.

He said he was not prepared to pass sentence until the true date of birth was established, and he directed the prosecution to make its own enquiries.

And he told the defendant that he would be required to attend court in person and to testify as to his true date of birth on oath.

Sentencing was adjourned to April 29 and Maughan was further remanded into custody.

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