Burglar asks for clean slate over 13 raids

An 18-year-old Shropshire man has been sentenced to nine months in custody after he asked to "wipe the slate clean" and admitted robbing 13 homes and businesses across the county.

Aaron Wallace, of Abbey Walls, Telford, appeared before Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday.

He admitted entering a home in Ketley Bank, Telford, as a trespasser and stealing a flat screen TV worth £649.

He also asked for 12 other burglaries to be taken into account.

He was sentenced to serve nine months in a young offenders' institution to run consecutively with a sentence he is currently serving for another burglary offence.

The court heard that Wallace was in a young offenders' institution when he informed police that he would like to confess to further charges.

Mr Price-Rowlands, for Wallace, said: "Whilst at Brinsford he let it be known that he wanted to wipe the slate clean and then went on a drive-around in a police vehicle pointing out the places he had burgled.

"There were a total of 13 properties, five dwellings and eight commercial," he added.

"He has had a serious cocaine habit for some time and these offences were to do with funding his addiction. My client is now clean of drugs."

The court was told the properties targeted included Greyhound Stores on Holyhead Road, Fringes Hairdressers in Oakengates, Tern Lodge at Atcham, the Oasis Fish Bar and the Muxton Fish Bar.

Judge Robin Onions said: "I hope you have now begun to realise that there is a better life for you to lead.

"The burglaries would not have been detected if you had not contacted the police.

"I think that it is a real indication of your maturity that you want to wipe the slate clean. I hope when your sentence is complete you will give yourself a chance," added the judge.