Burglar raided Kidderminster antique dealer's home (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Burglar raided Kidderminster antique dealer's home

7:20am Friday 25th November 2011 in Local

A BURGLAR who made a night-time raid on the home of a Kidderminster antique dealer has been jailed for 27 months at Worcester Crown Court.

Martin Gwynne also broke into a Bromsgrove house and was eventually arrested after being seen on the roof of a school.

Gwynne, 39, of Oak Road, Catshill, Bromsgrove, who pleaded guilty, was said to have problems with heroin.

His first victim was William Arris on July 16 in Chester Road North, Kidderminster, said Stephen Davies, prosecuting. Items including jewellery, binoculars and ornaments were stolen.

Police were alerted next day by a report that Gwynne was trying to sell the stolen items at an antiques centre in Kidderminster and had also gone to Cash Converters. All the stolen objectsd had been recovered.

Earlier that month, the home of Dennis Williams in Golden Cross Lane, Bromsgrove, was burgled and a 20 dollar Canadian bill was taken. This was later found in Gwynne's possession and he admitted handling the stolen note.

In August, Gwynne was spotted on the roof of Meadows First School in Bromsgrove by the caretaker. He was arrested by police and claimed he had only gone on the roof out of curiosity but he later admitted that he had entered five classrooms intending to steal metal cable.

His previous convictions included drug use and shoplifting.

Jason Aris, defending, said Gwynne had immediately confessed and had already spent 105 days in custody, which could be knocked off his sentence.

This was confirmed by Judge Patrick Thomas QC, who said he was surprised by the stoicism of William Arris, who had professed annoyance rather than distress in his victim impact statement.