Four jailed for total of 24 years after string of burglaries

THREE men and one woman are behind bars for a total of 24 years after admitting committing burglaries across Warrington and other nearby towns.

The gang were sentenced at Warrington Crown Court for their part in a large scale series of “car and key” burglary offences after admitting conspiracy to commit burglary at an earlier hearing.

The full value of items the group stole was more than about a quarter of a million pounds.
Kevin Andrews, 29, from Belvedere Avenue, Sutton Leach, St Helens was sentenced to eight years, Kyle Andrews, 23, of no fixed address was sentenced to seven years, Simon Bosworth, 27, of no fixed address was sentenced to five years and Katie Gilsenan, 19, also of Belvedere Avenue, Sutton Leach, was sentenced to four years.

A 16 year old youth received a youth rehabilitation order for handling stolen goods.

The court was told the offenders were identified following a lengthy complex investigation run by detectives from Warrington and Wigan who identified nearly 40 house burglaries from September to Christmas Eve 2014.

The team stole jewellery, cash, laptops, clothing and car keys with up to 30 cars stolen, over half of which were recovered.

DC Alex Reeves said: “Often families, many of whom had young children, would return home to discover the devastation left by Andrews and his associates.

“Kevin and Kyle Andrews and Simon Bosworth were actively involved in breaking into their victims’ homes.

“Bosworth was identified after his fingerprints were found on a child’s piggy bank which he had smashed open and stolen cash from.

“In one 36 hour period in October they forced their way into five separate homes in Culcheth, Hindley Green, Ashton in Makerfield, Westhoughton and Abram and stole expensive family vehicles as well as cash, jewellery and laptops. They continued their offending right up to Christmas Eve night, smashing their way into a family home in Garswood, Wigan and stealing Christmas presents which the police recovered.

“They had also stolen Christmas presents from families in St Helens and Wigan in the run up to Christmas 2014.”

The joint investigation culminated in a series of warrants executed in February last year resulting in the recovery of stolen goods and the subsequent arrests.

DC Reeves concluded: “This conviction is a great result for the victims. Burglary is a very emotive and intrusive crime, and to be targeted just before Christmas only compounds the situation. So to see these offenders behind bars should hopefully help them feel that justice has been done.

“This conviction shows just how valuable working with our colleagues in other constabularies is in tackling cross border criminals. We will continue to work together to tackle offending and prevent crime.”