A 25-year-old burglar from Telford who targeted 14 homes in a three-month crime wave has been jailed for nearly three years.

A judge at Shrewsbury Crown Court said Andrew Statham had burgled an “entire settlement”, leaving householders in the Woodside area afraid to go to bed.

Statham, of Wayside, Woodside, admitted two offences of burglary and asked for a further 12 similar offences to be considered.

He was sentenced to 32 months in prison on each of the offences, to run concurrently.

The judge, Recorder Mr David Hall, told Statham that people living in the area must have been worried to go to bed during the time he targeted them.

He said: “The whole settlement was burgled. It is the biggest fear of every householder to have someone like you in their house.

“You must have caused terrible concern in the locality. The people in that area must have been very alarmed each night until you were caught.”

Asleep

The court heard that 10 of the burglaries taken into account took place at occupied premises at night and that £8,093 worth of property had not beenrecovered.

Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting, said the occupants of a home in Roberts Road, Madeley, were in bed asleep on March 31 when the defendant entered through an unsecure door and stole a Nokia mobile phone, a wallet and a 1,000 yen Japanese bank note.

He said: ” The second burglary was at a home in New Road, Madeley, on April 16, 2010.

“The occupants had gone to bed and were unsure they had secured the main door.

“At about 4.45am, they were woken by the dog barking and noticed the security light was on,” said Mr Edwards.

“They went downstairs and found the front door was open and a handbag was missing from a hook near the door.”

Mr Ian Durant, for Statham, said he undertook a spate of burglaries in February, March and April of this year.

He told the court: “In February/March, a few years ago, he suffered a double bereavement.

“It is no excuse but during this time each year he goes through a very emotional period.

“Drink and cannabis meant he found himself committing 14 offences of burglary and attempt-burglary.”

By Rhea Alton