Man who burgled house in Cofton Hackett is jailed

Buy photos » Wallace has been jailed after a string of offences across the county. (s)

A BURGLAR has been handed a six-and-a-half year jail sentence after a string of offences across Worcestershire.

Roy David Wallace, from Lingard Close, Nechells, was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday (July 11) after several burglaries, including one in Cofton Hackett.

The 44-year-old admitted eight charges of burglary, an attempted burglary, theft of a car and dangerous driving during a police pursuit between March and November last year.

Wallace stole jewellery, cash, electrical goods and car keys at a home in Cofton Church Lane, Cofton Hackett, and another in Hereford during October.

The dangerous driving charge related to a police pursuit following a burglary in Kidderminster. He and another man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stole jewellery, electrical and household goods from a house in Spennells before being disturbed by a woman returning home.

Police spotted their getaway car on the A449 at Ombersley and, after a 30-minute chase to Redditch, it was finally stopped on the A441 Alvechurch Highway.

Det Sgt Marc Sanders said Wallace had driving well over the limit on busy roads before specially trained officers were able to safely bring the vehicle to a halt.

Welcoming the sentence, he added: "Wallace is a prolific criminal and we hope members of the public will be reassured that he has been locked up for some considerable time.

"Let this be a warning to others contemplating breaking into people's businesses and their homes.

"The police will not hesitate to prosecute offenders and clearly the courts will come down hard on them."

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