A man has been jailed after he tried to burgle three homes in two hours and threatened one homeowner with a craft knife.
James Fox, 31, from Chester was sentenced at Chester Crown Court last Friday (August 5) after pleading guilty to a series of burglaries in Ellesmere Port. He admitted to two counts of burglary dwelling and to threatening a person with a craft knife after police arrested him at a friend's house following the spree of burglaries.
Fox's crime spree took only two hours and happened on the afternoon of Monday, July 4. In that short time he entered three separate homes, threatened one homeowner with a craft knife after they confronted him, and tried to steal a car.
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The first incident happened shortly after 4pm as a man living on Ellesmere Port's Thornton Road heard his door opening. When he went down stairs to investigate he found Fox inside his home.
Fox claimed he was there to "sell some brakes," and didn't explain why he was in the house. He was told he had the wrong address and left emptyhanded, cycling away on his bike.
The homeowner grew suspicious and tried to follow Fox, though went back home when he couldn't find him. As he sat parked outside he saw Fox cycling past and decided to confront him.
The homeowner confronted Fox about why he was in his home and after an exchange, Fox threatened him with a craft knife. The man ran inside and called the police and Fox cycled away.
Police arrived at the scene at around 5.30pm and began to search the area. As they did so a report came in of another break-in on the nearby Cambridge Road.
The second homeowner reported that they'd seen Fox break into their garden shed and decided to film him doing so before challenging him. He fled after being confronted.
The third and final incident happened at around 5.40pm when another report came in from Girton Road, which runs adjacent to Cambridge Road. A homeowner had been watching TV when their dog started barking and sprinted into the kitchen.
The homeowner saw Fox leaving the address via the patio, soon noticing that their keys had been taken. Outside they found Fox trying to take their car and confronted him. He fled on his bike once more.
Fox could not be located on the night of the incidents, though days later, after he had been identified as the offender, he was found at a friend's address in Ellesmere Port and charged in connection with all of the incidents.
After his sentencing, Detective Constable Roy Wellings, from Ellesmere Port Police, said: “Fox is a prolific offender and I welcome the sentence that has been handed to him by the courts. These incidents were absolutely terrifying ordeals for the victims, to be confronted by an intruder in their home, the one place we should all be able to feel safe.
“Thankfully, we were able to identify Fox as the offender, thanks to the evidence provided by the victims and the information gathered by the team here at Ellesmere Port Proactive Team. I hope the fact that Fox 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.”
Another count of burglary was allowed to lie on file after Fox pleaded not guilty. He was sentenced to to four years and ten months in prison.
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