Neighbour gave chase to burglars

Steven Higgins and his accomplice Michael Hackett both pleaded guilty to the burglary at the house in Gaveston Road, Milverton, while driver John O’Sullivan admitted handling stolen property.

Higgins, aged 21, of Ravendale Avenue, Milverton, a three-strikes burglar who asked to have three more offences taken into consideration, was jailed for three years.

Hackett, aged 25, of Mason Avenue, Lillington, was sentenced to 15 months suspended for 18 months, with 12 months supervision; and O’Sullivan, aged 21, of Bissett Close, Leamington, was given a community sentence with 12 months supervision.

They were also both ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work and to pay £2,000 each to the home owners in compensation for jewellery which was not recovered.

Warwick Crown Court heard that last May a mother of two young children secured the house before leaving.

But at 3pm she had a call from a neighbour telling her of the burglary.

When she got home she found the kitchen window smashed and an i-mac computer, a Dell computer, an i-pad, a television and £4,300 worth of jewellery missing.

Her neighbour had spotted Higgins and Hackett carrying a TV along a gated rear access road, challenged them and ran after them.

They abandoned the TV, dashed over the gate and ran off to a waiting car which was driven off by O’Sullivan, who neighbours had earlier spotted.

Hackett was later seen getting out of the car and going into flats carrying a computer.