A burglar who used a stick to steal a wallet through a letterbox has been jailed for more than three years.

Mark Newsome, 50, of The Hide in Milton Keynes, has been sentenced to three years and three months behind bars.

On May 23, 2021, Newsome used a stick to steal a wallet through the letterbox of a house in Thompson Street, New Bradwell.

The thief then went on a spending spree with the bank cards he found in the wallet, fraudulently using them at various locations.

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CCTV footage taken from those locations allowed the victim to identify Newsome, who he had never previously met.

Newsome was arrested and charged on June 14, 2021.

Following a three-day trial at Aylesbury Crown Court, a unanimous jury found Newsome guilty of one count of burglary and five counts of fraud. He was sentenced on Monday.

Detective Inspector James Horseman, of the Priority Crime Team based at Milton Keynes police station, said: “I hope this sentence sends a strong message to offenders in the community that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated by Thames Valley Police.

“Burglary is a priority crime within the force and I am happy that this offender has been found guilty and justice can be given to the victims.”

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