A cat burglar from Spalding who targeted properties in London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, stealing £25,000 worth of goods from twelve homes during a three-week crime blitz, has been jailed for two years.
Industrial floorer Daniel Normon (27), of May Blossom Walk, booked into a hostel as a base for his crime wave in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea.
He forced open roof hatches or climbed up scaffolding to break into the houses and flats, some of which were worth millions of pounds.
Normon pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to burgling six properties and asked for six similar burglaries in the same area to be taken into consideration, plus a theft when he was confronted by the home owner, having stolen car keys from the property.
Prosecutor Olu Philips told the court all offences were committed between November 15 and December 3. Normon was identified after leaving either fingerprints or DNA at the scene.
His haul included a laptop, cash, jewellery, two iPads, a camera, a bracelet, an Apple Mac computer, watches and passports.
He soiled the attic at one of the properties before leaving.
Three days after his final raid police arrested him at the hostel and over half of the stolen property was recovered.
Normon’s counsel, Dan Darnborough, told the court: “He feels a great deal of remorse and regret. He has been remanded in custody for three months and it is the first time he has been in prison.
“He now knows what it feels like and is looking forward to a fresh start.
“He incredibly regrets these offences and will not do anything like this again in a million years.
“The motivation for these offences was entirely financial and born out of desperation. He split up with his partner in September last year and was still in love with her.
“She told him she was struggling financially and he decided to give her his £3,000 in savings. Then she asked for more money, threatening to turn to prostitution.
“People have done many stupid things for love and Mr Normon decided to help his ex-partner and felt he had little option, but to stop her taking the course of action she threatened.
“He is clearly not a professional burglar and did not know what he was doing, often leaving behind a hat or a scarf.”
Judge Phillip Matthews told Normon: “The impact on home owners is great and for some very long-lasting.
“You repeatedly targeted these homes during the day while the occupants were not present and you defecated at one of the properties, leaving excrement, and you stole high-value and sentimental items.”