A PROLIFIC offender went on a burglary spree targeting three homes in just one night.

Brian Rumley was caught on CCTV unsuccessfully trying to creep into one home before stealing a laptop and car keys from his next target and then stealing a number of coats despite being spotted by the householder as he crept into his Darlington home in June this year.

The 47-year-old was identified in a Regatta jacket that he had stolen from Boyes in the town centre several weeks earlier, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said Rumley pulled the £40 jacket on before simply walking out of the store without paying for the goods – he was wearing the stolen jacket when he was arrested for the burglaries.

The Northern Echo: Brian RumleyBrian Rumley

Miss Haigh said the victim of the attempted burglary realised something was wrong when he spotted his gate was open and checked his CCTV to see Rumley trying the handle of his door of his home on Hopetown Lane, Darlington.

In a victim impact statement, the householder said the incident had left him feeling ‘unsafe and uncomfortable’.

The second burglary on Brinkburn Road happened when Rumley crept into the victim’s home while he was putting the bins out and stole a laptop and keys.

Miss Haigh said the last burglary, on a home on Corporation Road, Darlington, was another sneak burglary and the victim found Rumley in his house.

She added: “He went to lock his door and to his amazement found the defendant in his house holding a collection of his coats, which had been hanging up on the rack next to the stairs.

“He confronted the defendant shouting ‘what are you doing with my jackets, who are you?’ – the defendant grabbed the jackets and ran away.”

The defendant was identified by nearby CCTV and police recovered a number of stolen goods from inside and outside his property.

Miss Haigh said Rumley had a lengthy criminal record with 25 previous convictions for burglaries and 94 for theft related offences.

Rumley, of Chandos Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to two burglaries, one attempted burglary and one charge of theft from Boyes on April 22 this year.

Michele Turner, in mitigation, said her client had been working well with probation service until Rumley was no longer able to attend face to face meetings due to Covid restrictions.

She said his criminal activity started when he was young and continued to offend to fund his drug habit.

Judge Howard Crowson jailed Rumley for three years for the string of offences.

"You have a very bad record for burglary but I hardly need to say that," he said. "It started when you were really young and it seems as though it has never really been possible for you to find an alternative lifestyle.

"I recognise since your last release that you were trying until things become difficult for you and you reverted to your usual behaviour."

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