Maastricht man jailed after refusing to let robber take garden gnomes

Andries Adrichem, 32, told robber Tijn Dirix, 23, to "go away" after Mr Dirix attempted to rob Adrichem's house in Maastricht, The Netherlands. He did leave when told to but the remarks really hurt his feelings, a court heard.

Adrichem, a plumber, was given a four-and-a-half year prison sentence at Maastricht District Court on Monday for failing to let a robber carry out his criminal duties and breach of the peace by making offensive remarks. Adrichem was told by the judge he had "acted in a selfish manner" by not letting Mr Dirix take the gnomes and kicking him out of the house.

The court heard Mr Adrichem was at home in Maastricht with his wife Angelina, 31, when Dirix, a neighbour, forced his way in at 8am on Aug 19 last year. Dirix was drunk. Words were exchanged and Dirix said he had a knife and threatened to stab Mr Adrichem if he did not hand over his garden gnomes.

Undeterred by the threat Adrichem told robber, Dirix that he would not hand over his garden gnomes and he told the robber to go away. Mr Dirix was very upset by this, left the house and spent the entire day crying over the remark.

Judge Theo Van-Oirschot told Adrichem "Burglars have a right to break into a house and take things without being insulted, your parents ought to be ashamed of themselves, they clearly didn't raise you correctly."

Speaking after the case, Mr Dirix said: "I was really upset by what he said, I mean he has way better garden gnomes than me and I wanted them for myself, is that really so much to ask for? I'm glad the judge saw it my way and jailed him for hurting my feelings, hopefully while he is in prison I will be able to take his garden gnomes."

Adrichem admitted the charge and claimed he didn't realise how much of an impact his words had on the robber.