Burglar wins a reduction on his prison term

7:00pm Wednesday 3rd December 2008

A PROLIFIC criminal with more than 50 burglaries and attempted burglaries to his name won a one-year reduction in his latest prison term at the Court of Appeal in London.

Paul David Horrocks, of Vernon Street, Bury, was jailed for four years and four months at Bolton Crown Court in June after admitting two burglaries — and asking for another 33 similar offences to be taken into consideration amounting to £32,000 worth of property.

The 32-year-old, who had previously been dealt with for 20 other burglaries, was told by two senior judges that the sentence was too long and would be reduced by one year.

Mr Justice Simon, who heard the appeal with Mr Justice Blake, said that, despite his terrible record for break-ins, he still deserved a reduction in his sentence.

Horrocks was most recently caught because police officers, suspicious of his activities, followed him as he left his home, pushing a baby’s chair, and saw him break into a house. After being arrested, he admitted another recent burglary in which he stole more than £10,000 worth of jewellery. A probation report, compiled prior to his sentencing, said he posed a ‘high risk’ of offending again if he did not break his drug addiction.

Horrocks had previously served a two-year prison term, handed down in 2004, for similar offences.