Burglar snared by distinctive gait and rare footwear

A man who burgled two properties in St Ives has been jailed for two years.

James Lewsam, 62, targeted the properties in August and September 2020 when the owners were away and stole items including cash and jewellery.

Officers snared Lewsam thanks to a shoe print at the addresses, which linked to a rare type of Adidas footwear later found at his home.

They also trawled doorbell footage and nearby CCTV images and spotted Lewsam in the area. They were able to identify him from his large build and distinctive gait.

Lewsam, of Hainton Avenue, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, was jailed for two years at Peterborough Crown Court on Friday (26 July).

Detective Constable Henry Longhurst, who investigated, said: “Coming home from holiday to find you’ve been burgled is a traumatic experience and Lewsam left his victims feeling unsafe and violated.

“Thanks to the vital work of our forensics teams, and nearby CCTV footage, we were able to place him at the scene of both incidents.

“Burglary can have a devastating impact on victims, which is why tackling it is one of our priorities and we are working hard every day to bring offenders before the courts."

For burglary prevention advice, visit the force’s dedicated web pages.