A PAIR have been spared jail sentences after trespassing in an abandoned building.

Rachel Kay Beal, 46, of Dominica Close, Popley and Brendan Oswald Baldry, 36, of no fixed abode, were handed suspended sentences when they appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday last week.

The duo pleaded guilty to trespassing with the intent to steal while Beal also admitted being in possession of a bladed article and one count of being in possession of a Class B drug, namely amphetamine.

The court heard that on June 25 last year, the pair entered the old IBM building in Meudon Avenue, Farnborough, and planned on stripping computer wires and stealing computers to sell on to make a financial gain.

Prosecutor, Rob Welling, said even though the building is no longer in use, it is still kept under security patrol.

Mr Welling said: “The on-duty security guard heard a window smash and called for the alarm to be raised. After inspecting the building, he found a shopping trolley which had been piled high with old computers and wires.”

When police arrived and arrested the pair, Beal was found to have a pair of wires strippers and around £100 worth of amphetamine.

Defending Baldry, Ayelen Tunon, said the 36-year-old had been using the facility for shelter.

She said: “He [Baldry] has been homeless for the last 10 years and he was staying at the IBM building to receive shelter.

“When he came across the old computers, he thought he could make some money to get back on his feet, but he realises what he did is wrong.”

For mother-of-three Beal, the court heard how she had fallen into financial difficulties which led to her actions.

Defending Beal, Harper Marshall said: “She feels very ashamed of her actions and has shown true remorse for what she has done.”

Sentencing, Judge Andrew Barnett said the pair were “depressing individuals”.

He added said: “You both have to be showing to be trying to turn your lives around otherwise you will be sent to prison.”

Baldry was given a six-month sentence, suspended for one year, while Beal was given six months for the trespassing, six months for the possession of a blade, and one month for the possession of Class B drugs, all to run concurrently, suspended for 18 months.