Serial burglar jailed for three years

A SERIAL house breaker jailed for three years, was told by a judge that he could only conclude he got a “buzz” from causing misery and fear.

Samuel Locke (24), had pleaded guilty to three burglaries in the Oldham area including one in which he stole a £55,000 BMW X5.

Locke was arrested by police after he was identified from smears of blood found on a door frame at one of the addresses he burgled.

Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told he was arrested when he turned up to keep an appointment with his probation officer, only to find police waiting.

Nicoletta Amatino, prosecuting, said as he was led outside to a patrol car, he suddenly made a run for it, escaping in a waiting Suzuki Swift car.

The quick thinking officer flagged down a passing police van and they pursued the car, which had been stolen by Locke in another burglary almost two weeks earlier.

The van pulled up in front of the Suzuki in order to stop it, and was rammed before the occupants were arrested.

The driver, Jordan Ackers (21) later pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving, and assisting an offender.

The court was told that on April 14, Locke, of no fixed address, had broken into a home at Beechwood, Shaw, shortly after midnight, hurling a paving stone through the kitchen window.

The householder went to investigate and called police when he realised that there was an intruder inside.

Stolen items including a laptop were later found strewn across the driveway, abandoned by Locke as he fled.

Two days later he smashed his way into a home on Cavendish Way, Royton, where he stole the BMW.

Householder Anthony Ferguson was woken by a loud bang and looked out to see the vehicle being driven off.

Fortunately a tracking device had been fitted and the car was later recovered on High Moor Road, Oldham. Again Locke was identified by DNA taken from blood found in the vehicle.

The court was told he later pleaded guilty to a further burglary in which he stole the Suzuki Swift.

Jailing him, Judge Timothy Mort told him: “These are not just crimes of property, but personal crimes which are incredibly serious.

“People get depressed and anxious, and are worried sick about their safety. I can only conclude you get some inner buzz from breaking into people’s homes.”

Locke was ordered to pay £900 costs plus a surcharge of £120 in addition to his jail sentence.

He had pleaded guilty to theft and driving while disqualified in addition to the burglaries.

The court was told that Jordan Ackers of Top Street, Oldham should never have been involved in the attempted escape.

He had known Locke, and had been asked to wait in the car while he attended his probation appointment on April 22.

Ackers who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and assisting an offender, was given a 12 month sentence suspended for eighteen months, and ordered to pay £900 costs plus £100 surcharge.

The court was told he felt “ashamed and embarrassed” at having become involved.