A PROLIFIC offender has been put behind bars.
Brendon Bell has been jailed for four years and eight months after going on a six-hour burglary spree across Northwich, Gwynedd and Anglesey.
The 22-year-old attempted to run away from police when he was caught driving a car with fake number plates days later but was quickly caught and brought to justice.
Following Bell’s sentencing, Police Constable Matt Uren of Northwich Proactive Policing Team said: “Bell is a prolific offender and I welcome the sentence that has been handed to him by the courts.
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“Burglary is an absolutely terrifying offence. No one should have to wake up to find the place where they should feel safe has been broken into and their belongings have been stolen. The emotional impact of this cannot be underestimated.
“Thankfully, we were able to identify Bell as the offender, thanks to the evidence gathered by the team here at Northwich Proactive Team.
“I hope the fact that Bell has now been convicted of the offences and is behind bars facing the consequences of his actions gives some closure to his victims, and the local community.
“I also hope that this case acts as a warning to others who are looking to come to Cheshire to commit crime.”
Bell’s crime spree began at around 6.55pm on Monday, March 4, when he broke into an address on Bay View Road, Benllech, in Anglesey.
He went on to target a further three addresses over the next six hours, starting with a house on Llwybry y Gwent, in Bangor, which occurred at around 8.30pm.
Bell then crossed the border to Northwich, where he broke into an address in the Landswood Park area at around 11.47pm.
The final burglary occurred in the Pulford Close area of Kingsmead shortly after 12am on Tuesday, March 5.
Bell stole an unknown quantity of jewellery from the address in Bangor but left empty-handed from the other three burglaries.
Northwich Proactive Policing Unit launched an investigation, recovering CCTV footage showing a man wearing a distinctive camouflage jacket – the same as the jacket worn by the offender in North Wales.
ANPR enquiries identified a Renault Laguna which travelled from Anglesey to Northwich and then over to Bell’s hometown of Huddersfield on the night of the incident and matched the timings of the burglaries.
As officers were unable to identify the owner, due to the car using false plates, they placed a marker on the vehicle.
It was stopped by police in Halifax, West Yorkshire, at 9.30pm on Wednesday, March 6.
Bell, who was driving the car, attempted to run but was quickly located and arrested.
Upon his arrest, officers seized a mobile phone from Bell and analysis of the phone placed it in North Wales and Northwich on the night of the burglaries.
For this, he was charged with four counts of burglary, with Bell also admitting to a further two counts of burglary for offences which occurred in Lancashire on Wednesday, March 6.
Bell, of Main Avenue in Cowlersley, Huddersfield, appeared at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday, August 8, where he was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison.
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