Burglary is an offence that can have a profound and long-lasting impact on its victims, with some even going as far to move house after learning a criminal has invaded their space.
While not all burglars are caught or brought to justice, here are eight such criminals who have all been sent to begin prison sentences after Sheffield Crown Court hearings held during the course of this year (2024).
Anyone wishing to report a crime should call South Yorkshire Police on 101.
Call 999 in an emergency.
Alternatively, you can stay completely anonymous by contacting the independent charity CrimeStoppers via their website Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling their UK Contact Centre on 0800 555 111.
5. Lewis Prescott: Jailed for two years, three months
Lewis Prescott: Suspect fleeing scene in balaclava stopped by police in early hours Lewis Prescott, aged 22, was running away from Pingle Avenue, in Millhouses, in January this year, after being disturbed having broken into the building, heard Sheffield Crown Court. There had been a spate of burglaries in the Millhouses area around that time. The court heard how, Lewis Prescott, of Becket Crescent, was disturbed by a resident on January 12 at 2.30am whilst attempting to burgle a property after already gaining entry to another address on nearby Pingle Road just a few hours before. He was found to have caused damage to the properties and made off with a stolen vehicle. South Yorkshire Police responded quickly to reports of a burglary and located Prescott nearby, where he was spotted attempting to escape over a fence and was found equipped with tools and wearing a balaclava and gloves. Prescott appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday (March 8) and was sentenced in relation to one count of burglary, one count of theft of a motor vehicle, one count of attempted burglary and one count of going equipped for burglary. He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing on February 9, 2024 at the same court. Prescott was sentenced to two years and three months in prison and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228 | SYP
6. Gavin Smedley: Jailed for one year, 10 months
Gavin Smedley: Jailed for one year, 10 months A burglar who attempted to steal a number of guns from a firearms store has been jailed. On March 17, an intruder alarm was activated at a local business. Within two minutes of the alarm being sounded, a police officer was on the scene and found Gavin Smedley with three firearms. When confronted by the officer, the 37-year-old dropped the weapons and was arrested. In a police interview, Smedley claimed he had been walking through the car park of the store when he saw the guns on the ground, and he picked them up. However, the hole which had been the cut in the premises’ roof, as well as a wood saw which was recovered near to the scene, suggested otherwise. Smedley pleaded guilty to one charge of burglary and three counts of possessing a firearm without a certificate On Thursday, September 5, 2024 at Sheffield Crown Court, Smedley, of Old Hexthorpe, was sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison | SYP
7. Corey Rodgers: Jailed for three years and four months
Bragging car thief jailed 19-year-old Corey Rodgers stole the cars during a string of burglaries carried out between April and June of this year (2024). Police say he targeted high value vehicles such as Mercedes, BMWs, and Volkswagen Golfs. Rodgers, of Wordsworth Avenue,, Parson Cross, Sheffield, forced entry to homes before stealing the keys to the homeowners’ vehicles as well as other expensive items, such as a Louis Vuitton handbag. A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson explained: “He had been released from prison in February of this year and tried to evade arrest by cutting off an electronic tag. “However, he was located and arrested in June and a phone was seized from the address. “A Snapchat account associated with the 19-year-old contained two videos which had been sent to a group chat named ‘no 9-5 here 2.0’. The videos showed vehicles stolen by Rodgers during burglaries and included the message: “Best bid takes em…” Read More Dearne Valley Parkway: Cyclist suffers broken bones in collision with lorry on Barnsley dual carriageway Dearne Valley Parkway: Cyclist suffers broken bones in collision with lorry on Barnsley dual carriageway “A number of tools commonly used in burglaries were also seized from the address Rodgers was arrested from. “He was charged and later pleaded guilty to 10 counts of burglary dwelling and theft, one count of handling stolen goods, and one count of driving whilst disqualified. “He also admitted a further ten burglaries through the taken into consideration (TIC) process.” Rodgers appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on September 6, 2024, when he was sentenced to three years and four months in prison | SYP
8. Richard Golding: Jailed for 10 months
A prolific Sheffield burglar claimed he broke into a school, causing thousands of pounds of damage, because he was spiked in a city centre nightclub. Prosecutor Stephen Grattage told Sheffield Crown Court that 44-year-old Richard Golding has spent the last 31 years of his life committing burglaries, and more recently, has ramped up his offending to include violence. Golding’s most recent burglary was carried out at Longley Park Sixth Form College in Longley, Sheffield, in the early hours of Saturday, September 16, 2023, the court heard. "You broke into this school, and you caused several thousands of pounds worth of damage and general upset," Judge Michael Slater told Golding. During the course of a hearing held on January 11, 2024, Golding read a letter to Judge Slater in which he apologised and said he was ashamed of his actions, before claiming he committed the burglary after being 'spikedt at Dempsey’s nightclub. Judge Slater described Golding’s criminal record, the first entry of which dates back to 1993, as being 'extensive,' with the majority of offences relating to burglary and driving matters. Golding, of Wincobank Close, Wincobank, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to offences of burglary and criminal damage at an earlier hearing. Judge Slater sentenced Golding to 10 months in custody, and said he did not consider it possible to suspend the sentence. | SYP