Weeping raider’s 48-home spree

A serial burglar, who raided 48 homes around Oldham wept as he was jailed for three and a half years.

Mathew Bower (22), of no fixed abode, but who has lived in Oldham for most of his life, stole goods worth thousands of pounds in his spree of pillaging.

Bower appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, to be sentenced for two counts of burglary at houses in Thorpe Lane, Oldham, and asked for 46 further offences to be taken into consideration.

All the offences took place over a 12-month period. Since his arrest on October 29, Bowers told and showed police the other homes that he had raided in the Oldham area.

Prosecuting, Jennifer Blewitt told the court that on the day of his arrest, Bower alongside a number of accomplices, broke into a garage and a house with a screwdriver.

They stole an expensive 32” LCD flat screen television and the keys to a Mercedes car.

The burglars were stopped in their tracks when neighbours raised the alarm and Bower sped off in the car.

Later that evening, police were called to a domestic disturbance in Chadderton and saw the defendant.

He matched the description given by the neighbours and a TV was found in a car. He was interviewed and admitted 46 other offences.

In mitigation, defence barrister Mr Harrison said, “He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

“They were day-time offences and all the premises were unoccupied.

“There were never any confrontations and no weapons were carried.

“It’s a great shame to him and great upset to his family.”

On passing sentence, Judge Foster QC said, “These are serious offences. Your overall criminality justifies a custodial sentence of six years.

“I take into account your guilty plea and in particular the assistance you have given police in identifying some of these burglaries.”