Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Judge rejects sob story of ‘one-man city crime wave’
Exclusive
A prolific burglar has been dubbed a “one-man Canterbury crime wave” after carrying out eight break-ins at city businesses – including three in one night.
John Edwards stole computers, cash and even a bottle of Champagne as he raided estate agents and accountancy firms in the city centre.
But he came unstuck after leaving his DNA on a pink glove, a balaclava, an LED torch and in the kitchen of one of the properties he broke into.
The 55-year-old made an impassioned plea from the dock at Canterbury Crown Court, telling how the crime spree took place because he was homeless.
But the judge said he had a criminal record with more than 100 offences, and the burglaries were carried out when he was subject to a suspended sentence.
Now Edwards has been jailed for four years after admitting burglaries at Finn’s estate agents, Hays Accountancy, and Caxtons chartered surveyors in Castle Street in July this year.
The following month, the thief, of Forrester Close, Canterbury, broke into Jackson-stops estate agents in Castle Street three times before striking at Kreston Reeves accountants in St Margaret’s Street and Finn’s again.
Kate Hunter, defending, told the judge: “There is no justification for his criminal activity and he feels ashamed and disgusted that people had to return to work and discover what he had done.”
But as Recorder Stephen Davies was passing sentence, Edwards told how his relationship with a partner had broken down and he had lost his job at an oyster farm in Herne Bay before being turned out on to the street.
He said he had been attacked and had to live in a tent which was burned down, and he received no help in finding accommodation. Edwards said: “I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know what to do.”
But the judge said that at the time he was arrested he was living in property, which Edwards claimed had been paid for with the proceeds of the burglaries.
The judge retorted: “You have an appalling criminal record and you are a professional criminal. In fact, you are a one-man Canterbury crime wave.”
Edwards was jailed for three years for the burglaries and an extra year for the breach of the suspended sentence.