A BURGLAR who was caught stealing two laptop computers and a television from a Peterborough home has been jailed for three years.

Matthew Grummitt, 23, of Meadenvale, Peterborough, smashed his way into a property in Belsize Avenue, Woodston, through a rear door on November 14.

As the victim returned home with her partner at 8pm she heard a bang and shouted out. She noticed the door had been smashed and that items had been stolen, including a television, games console, two laptop computers, and jewellery including rings and bracelets.

Police were called and while searching the area came across Grummitt at a nearby converted chapel known as the Old Retreat. He gave a false name but had the two laptops on him which had been stolen in the burglary and was arrested.

Officers searched the grassed area Grummitt had come from and they discovered the missing 42-inch television.

In interview, Grummitt claimed he had not burgled the property but had been asked to look after the laptops by an unnamed friend.

However, after further questioning he changed his plea to guilty and on Friday (November 23) he was jailed for three years for burglary at Peterborough Crown Court.

Grummitt has previous convictions for burglary, theft and robbery dating back to 2006, and was on license from a previous prison sentence for burglary when he carried out the latest offence.

DC Tom Rowe, who investigated, said: "This burglary was very distressing for the couple who returned home just as Grummitt was leaving. Thankfully, they got all of the items back quickly as we managed to arrest him before he got far.

"Grummitt lied to us from the start and denied the burglary but his account did not stand up to scrutiny. Hopefully he will now have opportunity to contemplate the serious consequences of continuing with a life of crime."

Matthew Grummitt