Burglary spree puts man behind bars (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Burglary spree puts man behind bars

9:14am Monday 19th February 2007 in Swindon By Gazette Reporter

Serial burglar John Young stole designer clothes worth thousands in a late-night smash and grab raid.

The 26-year-old had only been out of prison a week when he took more than £5,000 worth of garments from the House of Fraser department store, in Canal Walk, Swindon.

And the experienced thief managed to get rid of the items within an hour, Swindon Crown Court was told.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said the break-in took place at the town centre store on the night of September 13 last year.

A large plate glass window was smashed, causing damage worth about £3,000, before the thief was seen on CCTV cameras entering the store.

He was then spotted loading what looked like a sheet or duvet cover with designer clothes from display rails in the shop.

"I take the view that, though unsophisticated, you are nonetheless a prolific burglar and you have been for some years."

Recorder Timothy Mousley QC

Young left a trace of blood at the scene, the court was told, and was tracked down by his DNA profile.

He was returned to prison a week later for other matters.

During the two weeks of freedom he also committed another nine break-ins at commercial premises across town.

Mr Meeke said that Young had also been detected for another offence in the year 2000 when his palm print was found to match one left at the scene.

In that offence he had gone into a store in Cricklade Road and taken a purse from the staff quarters.

He was spotted by a worker who tried to lock him in the back room until the police arrived but Young managed to get out through a toilet window.

Young, of Norman Road, Gorse Hill, admitted two charges of burglary and asked for nine further counts to be taken into consideration.

Andrew Hobson, defending, said his client had been in the throes of drug addiction for some time.

"Mr Young accepts this can't continue. He doesn't want it to continue,' he said.

"That is why there were full and frank admissions in interview."

At the time of the offences he said he had just been released from prison and had no money, no accommodation and had lost the support of his family.

Mr Hobson said that since Young's last prison term, he had been reunited with his parents and was now on a heroin replacement drug.

Jailing him for 20 months, Recorder Timothy Mousley QC said: "I take the view that, though unsophisticated, you are nonetheless a prolific burglar and you have been for some years."

As reported at the time, men's fashion labels Diesel, Henry Lloyd and Duck and Cover were targeted in the raid.