Middlesbrough burglar jailed after he left blood at scene

Roman Polak’s first raid took place on an empty rented property on Portman Street, Middlesbrough, where he stole a washing machine, fridge freezer, two sets of drawers, two wardrobes, and a microwave.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the burglary was discovered when a letting agent visited the address on May 24 this year and left the landlord £1,000 out of pocket.

The 49-year-old was identified as the suspect when traces of his blood were recovered from the scene.

Polak’s second burglary took place on a house on Surrey Street, Middlesbrough, on June 13 this year when he smashed his way into the house before stealing a washing machine and fridge.

This time the defendant was spotted walking along a nearby street with the fridge on a wheeled trolley before abandoning the white goods.

When he was arrested, he claimed he had found the fridge but dumped it when he discovered it didn’t work.

Roman Polak (Image: Cleveland Police)

Polak, of Gresham Road, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to both burglaries when he appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.

Nicci Horton, mitigating, said her client was a longtime drug addict whose criminal record was not as bad as some similar defendants who appear before the courts.

She added: “For these offences, I don’t think he has clear recollection of as he was using drugs quite significantly.

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“He has accepted what he done.”

Judge Deborah Sherwin jailed the burglar for a total of two years and five months for both offences.

She added: “This case has a lot of a chequered history; it was originally sent to Crown Court in error as it was thought that you were a third-strike burglar but that was not the case.

“Once the court realised that you entered your guilty pleas.”