Burglar caught searching though bag of wrapped Christmas presents is jailed
John Murton, who has been jailed for more than three years Picture: ESSEX POLICE - Credit: Archant
A burglar caught rummaging through a bag of Christmas presents in Essex has been jailed for more than three years.
John Murton, 38, of Arne Court, Laindon, was caught red-handed by police as he searched through a bag of wrapped presents in the hallway of a property in Chelmsford.
Police were called just after 10pm on December 16 last year to a home in Havengore, Chelmsford, where a man had tried to get into the property through the front door and open the boot of the victim’s car.
When officers arrived, the victim showed them a video of the suspect running away. He also gave them a jacket containing a multi-tool and a mobile phone, which he had found in his bin but were not his.
At 10.50pm, officers saw the front door of a home in Cornflower Drive wide open and Murton in the hallway searching through the Christmas presents.
He was challenged and claimed he was looking for passports. The homeowner was in the house at the time but unaware the burglar had got in.
Murton was arrested and was charged with attempted burglary and theft from a motor vehicle in connection with the Havengore incidents and burglary at the Cornflower Drive home.
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The mobile phone found in the bin in Havengore was found to contain ‘selfie’ photographs of Murton.
He initially denied the charges and was due to stand trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on May 21. However he changed his pleas to guilty on the first day it was due to take place.
Murton also admitted breaching a suspended sentence for burglary and breaching a suspended sentence for handling stolen goods.
He was jailed for a total of three years and eight months.
