‘Calculating and callous’ man crossed border to target vulnerable …
A Market Harborough man targeted vulnerable victims[1] in a series of distraction burglaries. William Wallace committed the offences in the same area and on the same day before being caught.
Wallace, of Leicester Road, Market Harborough[2], targeted the homes of vulnerable people in Northamptonshire’s Rothwell on Thursday, June 29. The burglaries were committed at addresses in the town’s Moorfield Road and High Hill Avenue.
When he was arrested by police[3], Wallace, aged 49, was also charged by police with an attempted burglary in Castle Hill as well as two counts of fraud by false representation relating to the first burglaries. Wallace appeared before Northampton Crown Court in September where he admitted to two counts of burglary.
However, Wallace denied the fraud charges and also gave a not guilty plea to the attempted burglary charge. The Crown Prosecution Service accepted these pleas and decided he will not face a trial on either of the counts.
Wallace reappeared before Northampton Crown Court[5] on Friday, October 13 for sentencing. Judges handed him a 41-month jail term – the equivalent of three years and five months.
Speaking after sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Dave Bastuba said: “I’m really pleased to see such a strong sentence for William Wallace, who has shown himself to be a calculating and callous offender by targeting vulnerable people in their own homes, where they should feel safest.
“Distraction burglary offences are always tough to deal with, as they are a particularly personal kind of crime. Tricking your way into someone’s home under false pretences to steal from them is a truly low act, and I’m glad this sentence shows how seriously this type of crime is taken by Northamptonshire Police and the courts.”
References
- ^ targeted vulnerable victims (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Market Harborough (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ arrested by police (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Drink driver killed one man and seriously injured another after drinking at pub all day and stopping for more booze (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Northampton Crown Court (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)