A 'panicked' mum tried to hide stolen car keys in her jogging bottoms to cover her car thief partner's tracks.
Emma Simpson, 37, slipped the keys in her waistband as police searched her home after her partner Wayne Farrell carried out a spate of car burglaries.
During the search in Rochdale, officers also found a number of keys hidden in a child’s rucksack in the boot of a car parked outside.
Farrell was caught the day before in Sussex when police spotted him in a suspicious looking campervan.
Inside the van, officers found rubber Halloween masks, sledge hammers and false registration plates.
A court heard the 38-year-old broke into houses in Rochdale, Bury and Oldham whilst the homeowners were on holiday.
Farrell, along with Sean O’Sullivan, 47, smashed through patios and kitchen windows before ransacking the houses, stealing jewellery, cash and high value cars.
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Officers later went to Farrell’s home in Rochdale, which he shared with girlfriend Emma Simpson.
She initially denied any knowledge and tried to hide the keys in her waistband.
She later gave them a key to a car parked outside.
Simpson pleaded guilty to concealing criminal property.
Farrell and O’Sullivan were found guilty after a trial of conspiracy to burgle, and Farrell also pleaded guilty to offences of burglary, theft of a motor vehicle and handling stolen goods.
They were both jailed at Minshull Street Crown Court for a total of 15-and-a-half years.
Prosecuting, Andy Evans outlined the details of a number of different burglaries that had taken place.
“On January 22 2019, a couple were on holiday when the kitchen window was forced and the property, in Bury, was ransacked, emptying virtually every drawer,” he said.
A £12,000 VW Tiguan was stolen, as was jewellery and Ray Ban sunglasses.
Police went to Farrell’s address three months later and recovered the key for the Tiguan as well as a balaclava, a lump hammer and bolt cutters.
The jewellery stolen was said to be of ‘sentimental value’ and left the family ‘deeply distressed’.
On February 18 in Halifax, the rear doors of a house were smashed, and a large amount of jewellery was taken, along with Hunter Wellington boots, and keys to a VW Polo, a Vauxhall Mokka and a Jaguar.
Cell site evidence put both Farrell and O’Sullivan at the scene.
“O’Sullivan returned every day for nine days, which suggested he was planning to steal the Jaguar whilst still in possession of the keys,” the prosecutor said.
During a burglary in Bury, neighbours saw two men run towards the Mokka which was parked out front.
Farrell and O’Sullivan were later linked to the address through cell site information.
The court heard of other burglaries in which a Vauxhall Astra and Vauxhall Insignia were stolen.
Months earlier, in October 2018, a witness saw a number of men acting suspiciously outside his neighbour’s house in Burnley at around 2.30pm as they walked up the drive, each wearing beanie hats and dark clothing.
They left carrying a black bin bag and a white bag.
Five minutes later the occupants returned to find they had been burgled.
Gold jewellery and £3,000 in cash were missing.
The VW Golf, which had also been stolen, was picked up by ANPR and a short police chase took place.
In footage played to the court, it mounted a grassy area, narrowly avoiding pedestrians, before parking up and the men ran off.
Officers later found rubber Halloween masks in the boot, as well as a sledge hammer.
Farrell went on to burgle a house on Clay Lane in Diggle, taking golf clubs, rings, bracelets, cash and a tablet, as well as an Audi A3 and Land Rover Freeloader.
He also went on to steal jewellery, a tablet, a Mercedes and another Mokka from an address on Ravenstone Drive.
It wasn’t until September 2019 that his offending came to an end when officers in Sussex saw a VW campervan that they believed to be suspicious.
Farrell and two others were inside; Ryan Murphy who has been jailed, and the other who has a warrant outstanding.
Farrell has 14 previous convictions for 38 offences including burglary and kidnap; O’Sullivan has convictions for 125 offences including 68 dishonesty offences, and Simpson was said to have no previous convictions.
Mitigating for O’Sullivan, Adam Roxborough said that his client had remained trouble free following a lengthy period in prison for firearms offences.
“He can’t explain his relapse,” he said.
For Simpson, who works as a care assistant, Rick Holland said she had been in a relationship with Farrell for a very long time and they have three children together.
“She said this was a moment of panic,” he said.
“This was opportunistic and a one off.”
Sentencing, Judge Tina Landale said: “These burglaries were planned and you were targeting premises identified as suitable - it is clear you had a ready market to dispose of stolen property.
“It is clear there is no remorse.
“In your evidence, Farrell, you described the criminal offences and admitted you had no thought nor care for the victims of crime, or the consequences.
“It’s clear you see yourself as entitled to the extras and luxuries of crime.
“You have had no legitimate income since 2012 - you chose to profit from victims of crime instead.”
Farrell, of HMP Forest Bank, was jailed for nine-and-a-half years; O’Sullivan, of Wasp Mill Drive, was jailed for eight years; and Simpson, of Dicken Green Lane, was handed a 24 month community order and 180 hours unpaid work.
Detective Inspector Roger Smethurst, of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Group, said: “As a result of this investigation, we have been able to bring two active and experienced burglars to justice, as well as recover a great deal of stolen property and return it to their relieved rightful owners.
“Farrell and O’Sullivan stole whatever property they could lay their hands on, without a thought to the financial and psychological impact their crimes were having.
“While no-one was injured in these break-ins, we know the trauma of such crimes can be considerable.
“No-one should be made to feel unsafe in their homes and we’re pleased for the victims that Farrell and O’Sullivan are now behind bars.”
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