Prolific Lowestoft burglars jailed for latest spree

Over the course of a month in June this year Ronnie Bridges and Jesse Dunford targeted a number of houses in the Lowestoft area and stole property including jewellery, passports, cash, car keys as well as two air rifles and a shotgun, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Sentencing the men on Thursday (September 17) Judge Samantha Leigh said she’d read statements from victims of the burglaries describing the devastation they felt at their homes being violated and the heartbreak of sentimental items of jewellery, including an engagement ring, and family treasures being stolen.

She said properties had been ransacked during the break-ins and one homeowner believed a mini stoke suffered by his wife was a direct result of their home being burgled.

Another victim discovered her home had been burgled after getting a notification from her bank that someone had tried to use her bank card.

A car, which was found abandoned a few hours later, was also taken during one of the burglaries.

Bridges, 47, of Summerfield Gardens, Lowestoft, and Dunford, 40, of Palladium Court, Roman Hill, Lowestoft, admitted burglary in Dell Road, Lowestoft on June 28 and burglary at Chestnut Avenue, Lowestoft on June 25.

Bridges also admitted burglary at a property in Green Lane, Somerleyton on June 3 and burglary at a property at Sotterley Common, Sotterley on June 29.

Dunford also admitted burglary on June 23 at Whitehouse Farm, Flixton, Lowestoft, escape from custody, careless driving and driving while disqualified.

He was jailed for 40 months and banned from driving for 44 months and Bridges was jailed for 42 months.

Bridges asked for ten offences to be considered and Dunford asked for three offences to be taken into consideration.

The court heard that both defendants were ‘third strike’ burglars and were therefore liable to a minimum sentence of three years.