A PROLIFIC thief who targeted Cheshire homes, stealing thousands of pounds of sentimental belongings, is back behind bars.
Wayne Bethell, 33, of Redgrave Street, Kensington, Liverpool, stole more than £3,500 worth of sentimental jewellery, electrical goods and a family car during a daylight burglary at a home in Ermine Road, Hoole.
Appearing before Chester Crown Court on Monday, Bethell was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail just four months after he was released following a 10-year sentence for burglary.
The court heard how on September 5 this year Bethell targeted a house on Ermine Road, Hoole, while the owners were out for the day, stealing £3,700 worth of belongings before making off in their Vauxhall Astra which he stole from the driveway.
Prosecuting David Jones said the owners of the house, Mr and Mrs Samson, returned that evening to find their car missing from the drive.
“The couple discovered that the conservatory doors had been forced, and many of their belongings including a computer, camera, watches, and jewellery had been stolen,” said Mr Jones.
“In particular a gold sovereign ring had been taken. Mr Samson has made a specific point that the ring was a precious keep-sake, and part of family history, and has told me that some items can be replaced but this simply cannot.”
Later when the car was recovered by police officers, some of the stolen items were discovered inside, however the ring was never found.
The court heard how the following morning Bethell broke into a woman’s home in London Road, Dagenham, ransacking the bedrooms of the house before stealing a lap top.
“Unfortunately this was the second time in two weeks that this lady’s home had been broken into. She is now struggling not to feel that she is being personally targeted,” added Mr Jones.
Bethell pleaded guilty and asked for the court to take into account eight other burglaries committed in the Cheshire area.
Defending Daniel Gaskell said that Bethell had returned back to the north following his release from prison to try and rekindle a relationship with the mother of his three children and resorted to crime to fund his drug addiction when it had broken down.
“When the relationship didn’t work out he lost everything and went back to drinking and taking cocaine,” said Mr Gaskell.
“He was homeless and was offending in the hope of making a better life for himself. He wants to make a clean start and knows he must wipe the slate clean to do that.”
