Telford window cleaner given five years for burglaries
A window cleaner has been jailed for more than five years after being found guilty of burglary and perverting the course of justice.
Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that Barry Gilbert entered the bedroom of one house while the owner was asleep and stole a telescope and tripod by his bed.
Recorder Denis Desmond said the owner now suffered from anxiety and did not feel safe in his home.
Gilbert, 29, of Willowfield, Woodside, Telford, was on trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court having denied two counts of burglary, one count of theft and one count of perverting the course of justice.
Yesterday the jury found him guilty of all the charges and Recorder Desmond sentenced him to five years and eight months in prison.
The court heard that on October 10 last year two homes in Waverley, Woodside, were broken into.
From the first home, which belonged to James Adams, car keys, an Accurist watch, tobacco, a camera and a telescope were stolen.
The car keys were then used to take a Ford Focus car from the drive.
From the second home, two rings and two LCD televisions were stolen.
The court heard that Gilbert had also called his aunt Teresa McCollum and asked her to change her statement about the day she saw him walking with a television.
Recorder Desmond said: "You have one relative who lives with you, your Aunt Theresa.
"You tried to get her to lie to help your defence. She was too strong. It upset her greatly that you tried to do that."
Recorder Desmond said that the defendant committed the burglaries while he was on bail for two offences of battery.
