Prolific burglar jailed for more than five years

A burglar who targeted homes across the Hinckley and Blaby Neighbourhood Policing Area (NPA) has been jailed after admitting his crimes.

Steven White, who absconded from HMP Sudbury – in Derbyshire – in February 2022, targeted properties in Kirby Muxloe, Earl Shilton and Barwell.

On 10 March 2022, he entered an address in Kirby Muxloe, taking a set of keys to a Kia Rio parked outside. He then stole the car before abandoning it in a supermarket car park in Hinckley the same day.

Undeterred, White then committed further offences the following day. Firstly, he tried to enter one property in Earl Shilton but was unsuccessful in his attempt. However he then entered another address, taking a purse containing cash. The occupant gave chase and was able to confront him, but eventually White was able to make good his escape.

Three days later – on 14 March – White then visited an address in Barwell, posing as a window cleaner. The occupant arranged for him to clean her windows but while inside, White stole a mobile phone and bank card, which were later recovered.

He was arrested by police the same day and provided a false name while in custody.

However, he was charged with the following offences, which he admitted at Leicester Crown Court on 6 December last year:

• Three counts of burglary
• One count of theft, one count of driving while disqualified, one count of using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third party insurance and one count of driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence – all relating to the car being taken from Kirby Muxloe
• One count of attempting to enter as a trespasser a dwelling with intent to steal – relating to the first incident in Earl Shilton
• One count of escape – relating to him absconding from prison
• One count of doing an act tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice – relating to him providing false details

Yesterday (Thursday 5 January) at the same court, he was sentenced to a total of 64 months’ imprisonment.

Detective Constable Ian Mundy was the investigating officer. He said: “Without doubt, White is a career criminal who is happy to continue offending. He doesn’t care about the people he targets or the impact his crimes have on his victims or the local community.

“Preventing and tackling burglaries and bringing the perpetrators to justice are a priority for the Hinckley and Blaby NPA, and I hope the public can take some comfort from the fact he’s now serving another prison sentence and is unable to cause further harm.”