Peterborough: Burglar Jailed For 16 Break-Ins

31 January 2014, 06:40 | Updated: 31 January 2014, 06:42

A burglar who admitted 16 break-ins across the Peterborough area has been jailed after being tracked to his home by a police dog.

Joseph Hutchinson, 29, asked for 30 offences to be taken into consideration including a further 14 burglaries, after being charged with two break-ins in Hampton Vale during August, last year.

He had stolen electrical items from a home in Farrow Avenue, on August 7, and a Vauxhall Vectra from a property in Kennedy Street the previous night.

But a police dog tracked the offender's scent back to Hutchinson's address in Teal Drive, Hampton Vale. A stolen laptop charger and games console were found nearby.

A footprint at the Kennedy Street home was also later linked to footwear being worn by Hutchinson when he was arrested later that day.

He pleaded guilty to both burglaries and asked for a further 14 break-ins, six garage burglaries, five commercial burglaries and five theft from motor vehicles to be taken into consideration by the court.
 
He also admitted taking a vehicle without consent, driving without a licence and driving without insurance - all in relation to the Kennedy Street offence.

He was jailed for a total of three years and three months on Thursday (January 23). He was banned from driving for two years for the driving offences.

Detective Constable Adam Blake said: "This case involved some great work by the dog handler and scenes of crime officers who were able to link Hutchinson to the burglaries.

"He is a prolific offender who has brought misery to a huge number of victims and we're pleased he has now been brought to justice."