He had fallen on hard times
05:00, 29 Sep 2025Updated 07:36, 29 Sep 2025
Omid Firiq was jailed at Hull Crown Court(Image: Humberside Police)
A burglar who fell on hard times and “didn’t want to burden” his wife with his financial troubles raided a barbers shop and a cafe in the early hours of the morning in a desperate bid to steal cash, Hull Crown Court heard. Omid Firiq, 34, of Essex Street, near Hessle Road, west Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted two offences of burglary on April 25 and 29.
Billy Torbett, prosecuting, said that Firiq got out of the passenger side of a car in Newland Avenue, west Hull, at 1.09am and walked to a barbers shop. He used a crowbar to force his way into a rear door at the shop, causing damage estimated at £200.
He walked up to the till and took £100. “He left the shop the same way that he entered,” said Mr Torbett. On April 29, Firiq climbed over a 9ft-high metal fence at 12.22am to get into an alleyway leading to a cafe behind shops in Newland Avenue.
He was carrying a crowbar and he smashed glass in the front door of the cafe before entering. “Once inside, the defendant looked around,” said Mr Torbett.
“However, he did not locate anything and left the same way that he had entered.” The manager later said: “This causes a financial loss to my business, having to repair damage to the door.
“I am concerned that they will come back as they have not taken anything first time. This makes me and my staff feel unsettled working in our premises.”
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During police interview, Firiq made no comment to all questions. He had convictions for 18 previous offences, including several for burglary.
Holly Thompson, mitigating, said that the offences were committed within days of each other, using the same methods. Firiq had previously been jailed but he had stayed out of trouble for around two-and-a-half years.
He found work at a food factory but he was later made redundant. “Stupidly, without any real rational thinking, he turned back to criminality,” said Miss Thompson. “He could have turned to his wife for support but he didn’t. He simply didn’t want to burden her. He previously consumed alcohol almost daily.”
Firiq came to this country in 2017 after fleeing his home country of Iraq because of fear of persecution. “He currently has permission to remain in this country for the foreseeable,” said Miss Thompson.
Firiq was jailed for 16 months.