Juveniles Sentenced For Recent Telford Burglaries

Detective Inspector Pete Brophy, who is in charge of the Specialist Operations Department at Malinsgate Police Station, has expressed his satisfaction at seeing two juveniles given custodial sentences this week for burglaries they recently carried out in Telford.

The first youth - a 16-year-old male who cannot be named for legal reasons - was arrested on Tuesday 2 March in connection with a burglary that had occurred on Bromley Way in St Georges on Friday 26 February. Having been interviewed by police officers the 16-year-old was then charged with the burglary and remanded in custody.

On appearing at Telford Magistrates Court, the youth pleaded guilty to the offence and - having already amassed 33 previous offences for a variety of crimes - he was sentenced to serve 12 months imprisonment in a Young offenders Institute.

DI Brophy said:"This was a very pleasing result and was swiftly followed by the jailing of another prolific juvenile for two burglaries that he had committed in Shawbirch and Ironbridge in February. The convictions for these two burglaries means the 17-year-old - who has been a persistent problem for police in Telford for many years but again cannot be named for legal reasons - now has 19 convictions against his name and it's pleasing that he will now have to serve a four month sentence and will be off the streets for the near future.

"In addition to the custodial sentences handed out to these two juveniles, a 35-year-old man from Madeley was this week charged with a burglary and a theft and has since pleaded guilty to the theft and been give a 12 week custodial sentence. He has pleaded not guilty to the burglary and will be appearing in court very soon in relation to this charge.

"Finally, two other men were arrested this week after new forensic evidence became available and linked them to two burglaries they committed back in 2007. When presented with the evidence both men admitted the offences and were cautioned - a 26-year-old man for an offence he committed on Hollyhurst Road in Wrockwardine Wood and a 28-year-old man for a burglary he carried out on Brindleyford in Brookside.

"I hope these arrests and the outcomes show that we continue to be committed to tackling those individuals that cause the fear and upset that come with being a victim of a burglary. We will continue to target known offenders in the borough, while also keeping our eye on any new trends or new individuals involved in criminality.

"Advances in forensic science also mean that we can still look at old offences and deal with people for historical crimes as the two cautions we gave to the men for burglaries they committed back in 2007 shows.

"Tackling burglary continues to be one of the main priorities of the West Mercia Police officers based in Telford and we will carry on working as hard as we possibly can to reduce the misery that this type of offence causes innocent members of the communities we serve."