Prolific burglars jailed for series of high-value break-ins

This is a good result for the people of Newbury and Thatcham - Det Insp Carl Borges

TWO MEN have received lengthy jail terms for burgling a series of homes in Newbury and Thatcham.

In each case the high value break-ins took place at night while the victims slept upstairs, the court heard.

In the dock at Reading Crown Court on Friday were 20-year-old Flavio Andrade of Fir Tree Lane, Newbury and 21-year-old Paul Barlow of Cresswell Road, Newbury.

Andrade was also sentenced for his part, along with Hermitage man Warren Holland and Adam Scatchard from Wantage, in the “torture and humiliation” of a Chieveley man who was lured to a fake drug deal, savagely beaten, robbed, apparently doused in petrol and threatened with execution.

Notu Hoon, prosecuting, said the burglary haul included cash, jewellery, flat screen televisions, lap top computers, mobile phones and 10 cars - one of which was torched and two of which were wrecked.

Andrade, who has prior convictions for causing grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon, criminal damage, public disorder and thefts and Barlow, who has convictions for burglary, violence, drug offences, criminal damage, handling stolen goods, taking a vehicle without consent and thefts, both admitted conspiracy to burgle properties between August 18 and August 25 last year.

The burgled Thatcham properties included homes in Foxglove Way, Westerdale, Harebell Drive and Snowdrop Copse while, in Newbury, two homes in Marston Drive and one in Old College Road were targetted. Three properties in Basingstoke were also burgled by the pair.

Barlow asked for two further Newbury burglaries - one at Linden Close and one at Curling Way - to be taken into consideration.

Turning to the robbery, Mr Hoon explained how victim Jonathan Baccas was lured with the promise of cheap drugs - specifically, the illegal stimulant “meow meow” - to a deserted recreation ground car park in Chieveley in the early hours of September 14 last year.

When he pulled up with his brother Benjamin in the passenger seat he was dragged from the car, tormented, taunted and beaten for 20 minutes; robbed of his wallet, cash, mobile phone and socks and ordered to kneel, the court heard.

The judge was told that the brothers were then ordered to periodically raise their faces and each time the terrified pair did so, they were punched.

Jonathan Baccas was then doused in what he believed to be petrol by Holland; his car was driven off and he was threatened with execution by shooting, said Mr Hoon.

The judge pointed out that the circumstances surrounding the robbery amounted to “torture and humiliation.”

Andrade, Barlow and 18-year-old Holland, who was high on a cocktail of alcohol and the heroin subsitute methadone throughout, admitted robbery.

John Simmons, for Barlow and Oliver Wellings, for Holland, said their clients had shown remorse and desired to change their lifestyle. Mr Wellings claimed that the robbery was in retaliation for alleged abuse against a girl named Laura Clarke but the judge ordered him not to pursue that line of mitigation further.

He pointed out that his client had not, in fact, had a gun to shoot Mr Baccas with.

Rachel Drake, for Scatchard, said her client had no prior convictions, had given himself up to police and given a full and frank account of his actions. He had left the scene when the liquid was poured over Mr Baccas, she added.

Trudi Yeatman, for Andrade, said he felt “devastated and depressed” over the burglaries, had not been the “prime mover” in the burglary and had not poured liquid over Mr Baccas.

All four drew the judge's attention to their clients' relative youth and guilty pleas.

When His Honour Judge Peter Ross indicated that all four men would be going straight to prison, Scatchard burst into tears.

Andrade looked stunned as he was sentenced to a total of five years and four months' imprisonment, crying out in apparent disbelief as he was led to the cells.

Barlow was jailed for four years; Holland for 32 months and Scatchard for two years.

Afterwards, Det Insp Carl Borges of Newbury CID said: “This is a good resulty for the people of Newbury and Thatcham as well as for police. Andrade and Barlow are two very active criminals who have been taken out of circulation.

“Andrade in particular is a dangerous individual who has blighted the lives of many people in this area.”

Det Insp Borges said the pair had often gained access to homes because victims had not double locked their doors.

He urged householders to do so and also to remove items such as wallets and keys from view before going to bed.