Boy Aged 14 Admits Burgling Three Brighton Homes

Monday, 27 July 2020 18:07

By John Warburton @Warblefly

Police say a 14-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary, after being found by officers lying next to a bed in a stranger's home.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted the three residential burglaries, as well as one attempted burglary and possession of a bladed article in a public place, when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court today (Monday July 27).

According to Sussex Police, officers were called at 3.29am on Saturday (July 25) to a report of an intruder at a house in Henley Avenue, Brighton.

An occupant of the house had spotted the intruder using a torch to search bedrooms — and, when police arrived, he was found lying by the side of a bed.

In his possession, he had some of the victim's personal property including bank cards, a phone, an iPad and headphones.

The teenager also had a knife and a screwdriver.

When officers searched his home address, they discovered more items that belonged to victims of other burglaries recently reported to police.

These incidents were in Burlington Street, Brighton, on July 21; in Whitehawk Road, Brighton, on July 24; and at another address in Henley Avenue on July 25.

In these burglaries, stolen items included electronic devices such as gaming consoles, phones and iPads, as well as cash and cigarettes.

Officers said there was also evidence linking the boy to an attempted burglary at another address in Whitehawk Road, Brighton, on July 25.

The teenager was arrested and charged, and pleaded guilty to all offences.

He's due to appear for sentencing at Worthing Youth Court on August 10.

Detective Inspector Ian Still said:

"While we have been able to return a lot of the property stolen during these burglaries, this doesn't take away from the distress experienced by the victims.

"We are grateful to each of them for the information they have provided to us, which helped us gather enough evidence to charge the boy and to secure the guilty pleas.

"We are pleased the boy is being held accountable for his unacceptable actions.

"We will not tolerate behaviour of this kind and will continue to respond to and investigate reports of burglary in our community."