Basildon burglar uses stolen bank cards and car in shopping spree

Jimmy Stevens, of Theydon Crescent, Basildon, targeted the Basildon home while residents slept upstairs before making a series of purchases at petrol stations in Basildon and in Clacton on February 11 last year.

The 41-year-old was jailed for four years and six months at Basildon Crown Court yesterday.

He was convicted of burglary and fraud after admitting the offences.

Prosecuting, David Baird, said: “He broke into the home and the owner was upstairs asleep. At 6am the following day the home owner got a notification on his phone that his bank cards had been used in various locations.

“He then saw his car, laptop, wallet and cards were missing.

There were a serious of £20 transactions and Stevens was seen on CCTV and door bell footage too.

“He was out on licence after a previous sentence for other burglaries and his previous convictions goes back to the Nineties.”

He said a crowbar was found at the scene and Stevens refused to speak to police when he was arrested.

Mitigating, Richard Moss, told the court Stevens fell into crime again after being unable to collect medication for anxiety and back pain.

He said: “When he came out of prison he was caring for his mother who is bedbound and very unwell.

“He caught Covid and could not care for her and could not access his medication. He tried to get in unlawfully and then spiralled into this offending.”

Sentencing Stevens, Judge Shane Collery, said: “This is no way to live your life and am I sure you are realising the sentences are increasing.

“Burglary is enormously intrusive and is very frightening.

It’s a gross intrusion into someone’s life.

“Image this being your mother’s or sister’s home. There was an element of being equipped and of planing here too.”

Two charges of attempted burglary, one count of theft, five counts of fraud, three charges of assault on an emergency worker, one count of possession of cannabis and one count of damaging property will lie on file.