Prolific burglar admits breaking into home in latest crime
A prolific burglar already behind bars has been told he will not serve any additional time despite admitting a further break-in.
Matthew Walters pleaded guilty to burgling a home in Anglesey Road, Brownhills, when he appeared before a judge via video link from Featherstone Prison.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard he is already serving a sentence of five years and seven months and that he has committed six other burglaries since August 2009.
His latest crime took place on February 25. After forcing entry to the family home through a patio door, Walters took jewellery worth £260, a Samsung GALAXY S III mobile phone, DKNY perfume and bank cards from a purse and wallet.
Later the same day he then used one of the cards to buy goods from Tesco Express in Streetly resulting in a further charge of fraud to which he also pleaded guilty.
Mr Patrick Sullivan, prosecuting, said Walters, aged 31, spent a total of £188.41 using the card.
Walters, previously of no fixed address, was sentenced to three years for the burglary and 12 months for the fraud, to run alongside each other.
Judge Michael Challinor made it clear those sentences were effective immediately meaning it would not delay his release from jail.
He said: "The position is that because of your record you are bound to receive the minimum three year sentence for this burglary.
"And because you are serving a sentence of five years and seven months it would not be appropriate to add to that sentence.
"I don't want anyone to think this is to diminish the upset and distress caused to the owners and occupiers of the home but for practical reasons I can't increase your sentence.
"Therefore there will be little or no impact on your eventual release."
Last year Walters was jailed for two-and-a-half years after being caught out by a CCTV camera at a chip shop opposite a house he burgled.
The camera at Mr Chips in Bloxwich Road, Walsall, filmed Walters outside the targeted premises shortly before the break-in on September 10, 2015.
His barrister on that occasion, Mr Andrew Wilkins, said: “He has been in prison on numerous occasions and will die in prison unless he mends his ways. Unfortunately drugs are at the heart of his problems.”
