New life of crime

Pc Andy Pickering with then-former burglar Jason Fleming in 2011

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A SERIAL burglar who “reformed” and used his skills to help police went back to his old ways - and has been jailed for five years.

A crown court judge gave a terse personal farewell to Jason Fleming (36) as he sent him down for five years after he admitted four break-ins in Oldham last year — two of them while on bail for the first offences.

Judge Jeffrey Lewis said: “No doubt your intention was to have turned over a new leaf, but when you ran into difficulties you reverted to old habits. This is the third occasion where I have had to pass a prison sentence on you for burglary, but I can assure you it will be the last. By the time you get out I will have retired.”

During Christmas 2011, Greater Manchester Police teamed up with Fleming to help residents to stop their homes being broken into. Fleming, of Heron Street, had previously served seven years for burglary offences and admitted to breaking into 400 homes in Oldham during his life of crime, starting when he was 15.

But he got his life back on track and swore his days of crime were behind him, only to return to his old ways.

Fleming was last given a six-year sentence in 2007 for numerous burglaries — even helping police clear up unsolved crimes by voluntarily admitting to break-ins. Following rehabilitation courses, he helped Oldham residents protect their homes and even said at the time that spells in prison “is not a life”, adding “there’s more out there than that.”

But Manchester Crown Court was told last year he turned to drugs and crime again when faced with personal problems.

Paul MacDonald, prosecuting, said in two of the break-ins, terrified occupants had been woken to find Fleming in their bedrooms.

The court was told he was spoken to shortly afterwards by a police patrol officer who saw him acting suspiciously. A false address was that of his brother, and he was quickly traced.

Fleming was bailed pending court proceedings but within days went on to break into two flats on Manchester Road, Oldham, in September.

He had pleaded not guilty to all four robberies in which he stole cash and valuables, until the day of his trial when he admitted responsibility.