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Faces of sneaky burglars who think nothing of creeping into homes and leaving residents terrified
For most people, their home is their sanctuary – a place where they can close the door and feel safe.
When burglars violate that boundary it leaves householders feeling unsettled and scared. In some cases they sneak out undetected, but in other cases, victims have woken to find a stranger in their room.
For this reason, courts take a firm stance on burglars. Anyone caught breaking into a residential home on three occasions is sentenced to a minimum of three years behind bars.
READ MORE: Fantastic £2 bus route that takes you right through the Lake District
Here we look at some of the most recent cases to have been sentenced by the courts.
Rossendale burglar with 100 convictions targeted hospice in latest disgraceful thefts
A burglar who has 100 convictions to his name has been sentenced to more than two years in prison after stealing goods from a hospice.
In October last year, Nelson, Brierfield and Barrowford Police were made aware of a burglary at Pendleside Hospice on Colne Road. During the incident, two laptops were taken and CCTV show the offender had gained access to the inpatients’ ward, frequently used by those receiving end of life care.
After enquiries were conducted Peter Everall from Rossendale was arrested for the offence. Officers also found Everall had attended the hospice earlier in the day, pretending to be lost whilst he planned the burglary.
Full story: Rossendale burglar with 100 convictions targeted hospice in latest disgraceful thefts
Carlisle man terrified woman after appearing in her bedroom in the middle of the night
A man has been jailed after entering a home armed with a knife.
Stuart Brown of Eskdale Avenue, Carlisle was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison at Carlisle Crown Court today (18 May). Brown entered a woman’s home in the middle of the night, armed with a knife and wearing a face-covering.
The court heard that the victim woke up at around 2.30am to find Brown inside her bedroom at her home address. He held up a small knife and demanded the woman’s phone, before taking it and leaving the property.
Brown was wearing a face-covering, however, the victim was able to identify him through his voice and clothing. It took place at her home in Carlisle in the early hours of 18 June 2019.
The perpetrator was subsequently arrested, charged and admitted offences of aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article in a public place. For the aggravated burglary, Brown was sentenced to six years and a further nine months in prison for the possession of a bladed article in a public place.
Full story: Carlisle man terrified woman after appearing in her bedroom in the middle of the night
Dangerous robber who was so high on diazepam didn’t remember holding knife to man’s throat after demanding cash
A man who crept into a stranger’s home where he robbed him at knifepoint has been jailed for six years and nine months.
Mark McFayden, 46, was later caught on numerous CCTV cameras trying door handles in the Buchanan Street and Lyons Road areas of Chorley.
Peter Barr, prosecuting, told Preston Crown Court that at around 8am on January 23 the victim had been sleeping on his sofa when he woke to find a stranger in his house. The man had health problems and left the door unlocked to allow medics to attend in the case of an emergency, the court heard.
Standing over him was McFayden, who said he was there to collect a debt. The man insisted he owed no money to anyone, but McFayden said he wanted “a couple of hundred”.
The judge said McFayden, of Seymour Street, Chorley, was a dangerous offender and handed him a sentence of six years and nine months with a two year extended licence period.
Full story: Dangerous robber who was so high on diazepam didn’t remember holding knife to man’s throat after demanding cash
Accrington burglar jailed after ‘trying house door handles’ in Great Harwood
A burglar from Accrington has been jailed after being clocked trying house door handles of homes.
Hyndburn Police received reports that men were acting suspiciously and trying house door handles in Great Harwood. The investigation led to Chris Follet being charged.
The 48-year-old, of Ashley Court, Accrington, appeared at magistrates court yesterday (May 3) where he pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted burglary. He was jailed for a total of 42 weeks.
Full story: Accrington burglar jailed after ‘trying house door handles’ in Great Harwood
Moncler and Hugo Boss tagged clothes help catch burglar after £30k shop raid
Moncler and Hugo Boss clothes with tags on helped to catch a prolific burglar after £30,000 worth of items were stolen in a shop raid.
John Bishop was one of at least three people spotted by a member of the public outside the Flannels store in Tulketh Street, Southport. The witness saw the group, who were all dressed in dark clothing with their heads covered, using a grinder on a bollard outside the shop between 8.30 and 9pm, a court heard.
David Watson, prosecuting, said: “The offenders cut the locks from the bollards outside Flannels and then cut a square in the corner of the shutter. They then reversed a Ford Kuga motor vehicle on three separate occasions, destroying first the shutter, then inner security bollards and finally a glass window.
“Four suspects then entered the store and stole significant quantities of high end clothing and loaded it into the Kuga and another vehicle.”
Full story: Moncler and Hugo Boss tagged clothes help catch burglar after £30k shop raid
Blackpool conman ‘preyed’ on lone elderly victims with distress ruse
A heartless crook from Blackpool has been jailed after his ‘callous and deceitful’ thefts from elderly residents.
Joseph Wildy ‘preyed’ on lone victims to enter their home and would pretend to be in distress. The 35-year-old then stole their belongings while they were distracted trying to help him.
He was sentenced at Preston Crown Court to three years in prison. Wildy was convicted of committing a distraction style residential burglary and three fraud offences in Blackpool.
Full story: Blackpool conman ‘preyed’ on lone elderly victims with distress ruse
Barrow man who stole purse and electronics from property while child slept on the sofa is jailed
A man who stole electronics a purse and a wallet from a Barrow property while a young child slept on the sofa has been jailed.
Zachary Richardson, 25, of no fixed address was sentenced to 42 months in prison during a hearing at Preston Crown Court yesterday (March 28). It was in December last year that Richardson entered an insecure property in Barrow.
While in the living room, he took a number of electronics, a purse and wallet all while a child was asleep on the sofa. The break-in was discovered the next day.
Full story: Barrow man who stole purse and electronics from property while child slept on the sofa is jailed
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