Police have heralded the success of taking another burglar off Spalding’s streets – despite it taking four years to get him to court.
Mateusz Kurek was one of two men who raided the Park Road home of a disabled couple as they watched television upstairs in January 2009.
The pair stole a number of items including two mobile phones, keys, a purse, cheque books, bank cards and £40 cash.
The victims were alerted to what had happened by a neighbour and when the disabled woman checked the house, she discovered a flat screen television was missing from downstairs, as well as her handbag.
The raiders fled to an address in Winsover Road where police discovered Kurek rifling through the contents of the handbag.
Kurek (31), of Edinburgh Drive, Spalding finally appeared at Lincoln Crown Court last week, where he admitted the burglary.
The court was told that Kurek had failed to attend court in 2009 and was only arrested on a warrant in June of this year, despite continuing to live at the same address.
He also admitted failing to surrender to bail.
He was given a nine-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months with 280 hours of unpaid work.
A second man involved was given an eight-month jail term suspended for 18 months with unpaid work when he appeared at the crown court in March 2010.
Sunil Khanna, defending, said Kurek had no previous convictions either in this country or his native Poland.
He urged that Kurek should receive a similar sentence to his co-accused.
Spalding Police refused to comment on why it had taken so long to arrest Kurek on warrant after he failed to appear at the original court hearing.
Det Insp Richard Myszczyszyn said: “I am unable to comment on why Kurek was not arrested until some time later, but I would like to celebrate the court result in that it has taken another burglar off our streets.
“To reassure the public, rather than focus on the negatives of this relatively minor issue, it is still a good result.”