Burglars jailed for crime ‘campaign’
TWO career criminals used buses and Walrus travel cards to tour Cheshire and Merseyside stealing cars in a spree of 16 burglaries across Runcorn and Widnes as well as Warrington and Prescot.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Martin McQuilliams and Anthony Ballard’s offences netted them vehicles and other items worth £150,000
They then drove the stolen cars to others for disposal and travelled home by taxi to sleep after a night of thieving.
They were caught after their six-week ‘campaign of burglary’ after detectives linked evidence including bus CCTV, Walrus travel card and phone use and DNA.
Jailing both men for six years each Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, the Recorder Of Liverpool, said: “These were sophisticated offences using the Arriva bus network in order to travel the Prescot, Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn circuit and with a considerable degree of success.”
He said that while the homes had been occupied there had been no confrontations but the burglaries had caused considerable psychological and financial harm, telling the court: “Property stolen over and above the vehicles included highly sentimental items, none of which was recovered.
“These were mean and heartless offences committed with no thought for the property or wellbeing of others.”
Liverpool Crown Court heard that the two suspects were apprehended in Great Sankey, Warrington, on July 28.
Ballard was hiding under a caravan and when pulled out by officers he admitted, “I know its a scummy thing to do but I have to feed my kids.”
Judge Goldstone told 26-year-old Ballard, who has already served five years for a string of virtually identical hook-andcane burglaries in 2011: “You described them as scummy offences. I agree with your assessment.
“The fact you needed to provide for your children was no excuse for the campaign of burglary in which you and your coaccused became involved over this six week period.
“They were more than scummy, they were professional burglaries and professional burglars have to be dealt with by the imposition of professional sentences in the hope they will deter your commission of similar offences in the future.”
McQuilliams, 28, of Dingle Vale, Dingle, Liverpool, and Ballard, of no fixed address, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle involving targeting 23 homes.
Chris Taylor, prosecuting, told the court that over five-and-a-half weeks in June and July the duo broke into 18 homes and tried to break into five others.
In all but two cases they used a hook and cane to try to obtain car keys hanging just inside the front doors and drove off in a total of 10 vehicles.
The lower value cars were sold for scrap or parts and the more expensive ones such as BMWs and Audis were then ‘ringed’ – ie given different car identification numbers – and sold on.
The court heard in mitigation that both men, who have extensive previous convictions, had pleaded guilty.
Cheshire police said the offences were committed between June 24 and July 29 this year.
Speaking after the hearing, Detective Sergeant Marc Roberts, of Widnes Local Policing Unit, said: “Burglary is a despicable crime and targets people in the one place they should feel safest – in their own homes.
“The impact of this should not be underestimated.
“The conclusion of this case today means that two serial burglars have been jailed for a significant period of time.
“Cheshire Constabulary is committed to tackling burglary offences and we will continue to target those who come into Cheshire to commit crime.”
The Weekly News reported on the duo’s arrests and police concerns over a spike in hook and cane burglaries back in August. ● Martin McQuilliams ●