Dorset postman broke into women's homes to steal their underwear as they slept

A Dorset postman used his local knowledge to enter women’s properties late at night in order to steal their underwear.

Glen Holden, 58, was a postman for 32 years in the Sherborne area and struck up a rapport with residents over the years.

Poole Magistrates’ Court heard how Holden “abused his trust” and targeted properties he knew women lived at in order to steal their underwear for his own sexual gratification.

Prosecutor Charles Nightingale noted his erratic behaviour escalated when he brought a ladder to properties in order to climb through the first-floor window and enter the home.

Referring to an incident after 1am on July 14, Mr Nightingale said Holden rang the doorbell of a property in Kings Road in Sherborne before he climbed up a ladder and entered a first-floor bedroom window. He said: “The house sitter is awakened at 1.10am hearing the front doorbell.

"She didn’t answer it and ignored it. She kept awake and got up to go to the bathroom and checked if anyone was outside.

“She describes then going into that bedroom and saw someone in the window. She was unsure what she was seeing but saw it was a person. She pushed the person away but then caught them as they fell.”

The victim, who was house sitting for the occupants while they were away, said she was “shocked by the nature of the incident” and noticed Holden left a head torch and set of ladders behind.

Since the incident, the house owner is “barely able to sleep” and “jumping up at every noise” during the night. She also added that she was disturbed by how Holden had entered her daughter’s bedroom and constantly checks the locks of her home.

A second incident in Manor Road in Milborne Port in July, which saw its occupants wake up to the sounds of a man in the house. Mr Nightingale explained: “All she could see was a moving white line.

"She knew someone was in the house. She and her partner went to first floor, couldn't see anyone in the house, but saw the door (of another room) was open as well as the window.

“The room’s bed and dressing table had been moved and it was clear the window had been opened.”

Nothing was stolen on either occasion, but Holden was later caught and arrested. During a police interview, Holden said he was “ashamed” and had “deep problems that he cannot control his urges”.

Mr Nightgale observed from the police interview that Holden used his local knowledge to enter these properties knowing they were occupied by women and would steal their underwear for his own sexual gratification. He added: “He says he wants to enter women’s properties to get women's underwear for sexual gratification. He cannot control it.”

The court also heard how Holden had previously stolen underwear from washing lines to take home for his own sexual pleasure, before washing and returning them. Holden, of Clanfield in Sherborne pleaded guilty to two counts of entering a property as a trespasser with intent to steal.

Throughout the hearing, Holden had his head in his hands and looked visibly upset.

Patricia Sheehan, defending, said Holden was seriously apologetic and embarrassed about his actions and had written a letter to say sorry for his actions. Ms Sheehan also called the background of the offences “unusual” and noted that Holden had taken steps to resolve his sexual behaviour.

She said: “You have a letter from a counsellor that he is seeing. He has had three sessions and more are scheduled.

"He is 58-years-old and has been a postman for 32 years with nothing on his criminal record. He has been open and candid about his actions since he was arrested.”

Deputy District Judge Moffatt was however concerned about the “very worrying” aspects of Holden’s crimes and feared that it was a rapid escalation of his sexual behaviour, with fears he could sexually assault a woman. She said: “He has progressed in terms of getting underwear from gardens to going to taking a ladder to properties where he knows women live, entering via first floor windows to find underwear.

"That is a rise in sexual behaviour and that worries me most.” She added: “He is now committing burglaries. What is to stop him from committing a rape?”

Deputy District Judge Moffatt was dissatisfied that Holden should be sentenced at Poole Magistrates’ Court due to the limited sentencing powers and ordered him to be sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Holden will appear at Bournemouth Crown Court on September 23, which also coincides with his 59th birthday. He was released on conditional bail and remains under electronic curfew between 9pm and 6am.

Additional reporting by BPM Media/Ann Dixon.