Noisy Hanley burglar Kevin Nash caught in act by neighbour

BURGLAR Kevin Nash has been jailed after being caught red-handed inside his victim's house.

A neighbour saw the 30-year-old breaking into the property and called police, who arrived while he was still there.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Nash knew the people who lived at the house in Elmcroft Road, Abbey Hulton, and that they were away on holiday.

David Bennett, prosecuting, said: "At 5.45am on August 19, a neighbour was woken by the sound of smashing glass at the rear of the address. The neighbour could hear someone using force on a door.

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"She looked out and saw the defendant walking up and down in the back garden. The neighbour contacted the police.

"Prior to the police arriving she witnessed the defendant with a metal bar, and saw him drop it over the fence into a neighbouring garden.

"She then saw the defendant enter the address via a broken window and he was still inside the premises when police arrived."

The court heard nothing had been taken from the house but things had been moved in the living room and a first-floor bedroom.

In his interview, Nash told police he would have stolen property if he had not been caught. He also admitted knowing the family who lived at the house and that they were away on holiday.

Nash pleaded guilty to burglary and asked for two other matters to be taken into consideration.

They were a burglary at a house in Glover Street, Birches Head, on November 30, and another in Birches Head Road, Birches Head, on May 16.

In the Glover Street offence, Nash stole a computer and sold it on for £200, and in the later burglary took a laptop, which he sold for £110.

Both the offences were committed while he was on licence after being released from prison.

The court heard Nash, of Jervis Street, Hanley, had previous convictions for 28 offences.

Arif Hussain, mitigating, said: "Following his release from prison last year he undertook some casual work and for a short time seemed to be leading a settled life.

"He then lost his grandparents, who had effectively brought him up, within a short space of time, and he was deeply upset.

"He resorted to alcohol and his old ways. He really does want to change. He is genuinely remorseful and regrets his actions."

Nash had written a letter to the judge expressing his remorse.

But Judge Robert Trevor-Jones still sentenced Nash to three-and-a-half years in prison.

He said: "I hope that the resolve you expressed in your note is both genuine and will be long lasting, and will be at the forefront of your mind when you are released from the inevitable custodial sentence I have to impose.

"You know each time you come before the court for a dwelling house burglary the sentences are going to get longer."