Serial burglar caught in Burnley post office visit

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/ne ... ice_visit/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A SERIAL house burglar behind a ‘mini crime spree’ was caught after he went to Burnley's main post office to cash $700 he had stolen, a court heard.

Father-of-two Dean Ormonde was filmed on the shop’s CCTV and was arrested.

Ormonde, 34, had raided two homes and handled the proceeds of another burglary and a £300 mountain bike in the space of three weeks last October and November.

He had struck because he was ‘flat broke’, the town's crown court was told.

The defendant, a ‘three strike’ burglar with almost 70 offences on his record, was facing a minimum of three years behind bars, with ‘credit’ for his guilty plea, but got a lower sentence because of a letter he had written to the judge.


The hearing was told how in the letter, Ormonde said he wanted to publicly apologise to his victims and said: “I hope they can find closure in the custodial sentence that I know I deserve.”

The defendant, of Ribblesdale Street, Burnley, had admitted two charges of burglary and two of handling stolen goods and was locked up for two years and five months.

Michael Wallbank, prosecuting, said Ormonde forcibly entered a house on Briercliffe Road, Burnley, last October 27, whilst the victims were at the cinema and stole property worth £1,100.

After their ordeal, the victims no longer felt safe in their own home and felt anxious when they were out.

He next targeted a property on Melville Street in the town where he helped himself to a £3,600 haul, including the American dollars and £320 sterling.

He was arrested last November 23 and items stolen in the two break-ins were recovered.

Mark Stuart, for Ormonde, said he had an ‘appallingly lengthy record’ and said: “He was flat broke, but he accepts responsibility, blames nobody for his offending and doesn't try to minimise its effect upon the victims.”

He said Ormonde, whose mother was very ill, could cope with custody, but knew it may have an effect on her.

He had let himself down, but more importantly, his partner, mother and two daughters.

Sentencing, Recorder Philip Parry said, from the letter, it was clear he had an awful lot going for him on the outside.

He said: “It just simply isn't good enough, just because you have run out of cash, to help yourself to other people's belongings.”