Serial Staffordshire raider gets six years

A ONE-MAN crimewave who burgled 47 homes across Staffordshire and Walsall has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Sean Crabtree targeted homes in Pelsall, Bloxwich, Norton Canes and Hednesford during his six-month crime spree.

He stole children's Christmas presents from one home in Bloxwich, while another house was burgled as his elderly victim lay bed-bound.

The 43-year-old also stole more than £14,000 of jewellery and medals from another victim in Aldridge.

Police today said many of his victims had their lives "turned upside down" by the crimes. Dc Andy Bellingham, from Walsall CID, said it was "sickening" to think of how many lives had been affected. Many of the victims were pensioners or young families.

Crabtree was caught by police as he eyed the home of what would have been his 48th victim in Long Meadow Road, Walsall, on March 11.

He got out of his car and checked the house before driving off, only to be arrested a short while later by officers who found he was already wanted for burglary in Lichfield Road, Bloxwich.

Crabtree, of Bridgewater Close, Walsall Wood, was charged with seven counts of burglary but asked for 40 others to be taken into consideration.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court on Wednesday he admitted the offences, which all happened between October 2011 and March 2012.

Crabtree was given credit for his early guilty plea but police today said the sentence still reflected the gravity of his crimes. A joint investigation into Crabtree's crime spree was carried out by Staffordshire and West Midlands police forces.