'Appalling' record of prolific burglar (From Bournemouth Echo)

'Appalling' record of prolific burglar

7:00pm Tuesday 9th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

A BURGLAR caught during a campaign in East Dorset to crack down on domestic break-ins admitted his part in 25 offences, a court was told.

Anthony Swift, 42, pleaded guilty to breaking into a property rented by students in Charminster Road, Bournemouth, on New Year’s Eve.

Swift, from Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, fled with items including a television, satellite navigation system and computer equipment.

His victim, Cerise Carroll, discovered that her car had also been taken during the raid.

Prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, Desmond Duffy said Swift had been arrested on January 21 this year.

During interview he provided information to police concerning another 24 offences he had committed last year.

In a victim impact statement, Miss Carroll said she had been emotionally affected by the break-in.

The trauma of being burgled had interfered with her studies and left her feeling uneasy in her own home.

Defence barrister Frank Abbott stressed that the string of crimes Swift had admitted following his arrest would not have been solved without his client’s co-operation.

He asked for sentencing to be adjourned to determine whether Swift was suitable for a drug rehabilitation programme.

Recorder Nicholas Rowland described Swift’s record as “appalling” but agreed to adjourn sentencing. He warned Swift that he should prepare himself for a custodial sentence.

More than 2,000 homes were visited in West Moors, St Leonards, St Ives and Ashley Health during the two-week East Dorset burglary prevention campaign.

Swift was brought to justice after being caught by officers out on patrol.