A Preston man has been jailed for more than three years for a number of burglaries in the university area of the city.
AdvertisementRonnie Kirham, of Adelphi Street, Preston, was convicted of eight burglaries which took place during October.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison.
Preston Police said Kirkham had targeted a number of student properties because he believed they were ‘easy targets’.
Detective Constable Gibson said: “In what turned out to a fast moving investigation, the initial response given by university security working alongside local police resulted in an address being identified where a suspect entered carrying what turned out to be the stolen goods from the recent burglary.
“A subsequent search of that address also recovered clothing that linked Kirkham to other offences that had been committed around the university. After being remanded into custody Kirkham was re-arrested and admitted a further 8 dwelling burglary offences, 6 of which were student occupied properties, as he deemed them easy targets as they lacked security awareness and were always in possession of up to date electronic items.
“44 months imprisonment reflects the nature and seriousness of his offending behaviour and it is only because of his willingness to admit the offences and entering an early guilty plea that prevented a sentence of more than 7 years being applied.
“The university security should be aware of the vital role they played in apprehending the suspect and identifying the location where he went because without that knowledge the offences may never have been detected.”