Jail for burglar who struck while victim slept

A prolific criminal who broke into a Cambridge home while the victim slept has been jailed.

Stephen Neal broke into a property in Trafalgar Street just after 3am on 7 August.

He took the victim’s e-scooter, charger and a pair of trainers.

Neal was captured on CCTV and identified by police who tracked him down in Mill Road later that morning, riding the victim’s scooter.

Inside the 36-year-old’s bag was also the charger and trainers from the property.

At Huntingdon Law Courts yesterday (10 October), Neal, of High Barns, Ely, was sentenced to four years and ten months in prison after pleading guilty to burglary and three breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).

He was given the two-year CBO in December 2021 which states he must not:

Be in possession of any pedal cycle part or pedal cycle unless having notified the police within 24 hours of his lawful possession, providing any details of the possession.

Go to Superdrug, Boots or Go Outdoors stores in Cambridge within the boundary of the M11, A11 and A14.

PC Ryan Parker, who investigated, said: “Neal is a prolific criminal who has a flagrant disregard for people and their property. We have arrested him numerous times this year and put him before the courts. This latest sentence reflects the significance of his continued offending across Cambridgeshire.”