Two jailed for burglary

TWO men from Oldham jailed for housebreaking were told by a judge they had appalling records.

James Twist (26), of Densmore Street, Failsworth, was caught red-handed with thousands of pounds of jewellery he had just stolen after a neighbour was alerted by the sound of breaking glass.

Police found Twist in the back of his father’s white Transit van, clutching a pillow slip containing his swag, Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told.

He confessed immediately to what he had done, but told police: “Don’t arrest my dad. He knew nothing about it.”

Wendy Logan, prosecuting, said police were called to Old Hall Lane in Woodford, Stockport, last June after a concerned neighbour heard the sound of smashing glass from an adjacent home.

When officers got to the scene they spotted a Transit van near by and asked the driver what he was doing in the area. He told them he was collecting scrap metal.

When they looked in the back they found Twist junior who the court was told was sweating profusely.

Ms Logan said Twist told police he had asked his father for a lift to the area, and then shinned up a drainpipe and smashed a window to get into the house. Jewellery valued at around £18,000 had been taken. Fortunately the occupants were out at the time.

She said drawers in the main bedroom had been opened and searched, and though the house had not been ransacked, the homeowners had been so distressed by the break-in that they were considering moving.

The court was told that Twist, who had a string of 24 previous convictions, had confessed to what he had done immediately.

He pleaded guilty to burglary as did an accomplice, Ian Borwick (25), of Keswick Avenue, Fitton Hill.

Borwick, who acted as look-out, has 19 previous convictions for offences including burglary.

Sentencing them both, Judge Yvonne Coppel told them: “You have appalling records.”

She told Twist: “You have convictions for numerous house burglaries but on this occasion you were caught red-handed.”

Twist has been sentenced to three year in prison, and Borwick has been sentenced to serve 28 months.