Brazen thief sipped tea and ate food in Smethwick property he broke into three times
A prolific thief who has convictions for incidents in the Black Country going back to 1998 has been jailed after targeting an empty house three times where the elderly resident was seriously ill in hospital.
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Brazen Simon Churchley carried out three burglaries at the same property in Waterloo Road, Smethwick, between June 4 and 28 where he left 'no cupboard' unturned and stole around £30,000 of loot including items of sentimental value to the family.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the first burglary took place overnight on June 4 this year after the son of the mother who had been taken into hospital had secured the property.
Simon Hanns, prosecuting said: "He still managed to get in and carried out a untidy search , leaving a trace of blood on the lounge wall by the light switch.
"The second time on June 23 he gained entry by smashing the window with a breeze block and found time to have a cup of tea and a sandwich in between stealing items including a vacuum cleaner. Aain he left blood stains and Mexican wrestling masks he had worn to carry out the burglary.
