Burglar caught on OAP's CCTV

A HABITUAL burglar who ransacked the home of an Ipswich pensioner is today beginning a two-and-a-half year jail term.

Jane Hunt

A HABITUAL burglar who ransacked the home of an Ipswich pensioner is today beginning a two-and-a-half year jail term.

The 77-year-old victim of the burglary, who lives in a three-bedroom end terraced house in Palmerston Road, Ipswich, had been the victim of burglaries in the past and had installed CCTV at his premises as well as a number of other devices to deter intruders.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that on the day of the incident the pensioner went out at about 9.40pm and discovered the burglary when he returned home at 3am, said Michael Crimp prosecuting.

He found the house had been broken into through a boarded up window at the rear of the premises and that a number of rooms had been ransacked.

Mr Crimp said two bedrooms had been “turned upside down” and items thrown over the landing.

A number of tapes had also been removed from their cases and �2,000 cash had been taken.

“Everywhere was a complete mess,” said Mr Crimp.

Fortunately, CCTV monitors at the house had recorded the burglary and police officers were able to identify 39-year-old Arthur Edwards as the raider.

Edwards, of no fixed address, admitted burglary and was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Sentencing him, Judge David Goodin described Edwards as “a habitual burglar”. He told the court the defendant had been sentenced on 15 occasions for burglary.

Martyn Levett, for Edwards, asked the court to give him credit for his guilty plea.