Homeless man jailed over burglaries

A HOMELESS man has been jailed for three-and-a-half years following a string of burglaries across the Thames Valley, including Twyford.

James McDonagh, 36, was sentenced by Reading Crown Court on Friday last week.

He had pleaded guilty to seven counts of dwelling burglary on Monday, October 1.

Thames Valley Police conducted the investigation and said that McDonagh had raided homes in Kintbury, Twyford, Tilehurst and Pangbourne, as well as in Cholsey in Oxfordshire, and Little Chalfont in Buckinghamshire in February and March this year.

At each theft, he took cash, jewellery and watches.

During the burglary in Pangbourne, McDonagh assaulted the occupant, pushing her to the floor as he fled the scene.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Jay Ellams said: “Burglary has a significant impact on communities and unfortunately it only takes a small number of criminals to carry out spates of burglaries.

“McDonagh was initially identified by forensics, having left his DNA at the scene of four burglaries across the Thames Valley. He was also captured on CCTV at train stations near to the burglaries.

“McDonagh was very uncooperative during our investigation; he was already in prison for a number of burglaries he carried out in Surrey, but when I attended prison to question him about the offences in the Thames Valley he refused to see me.

“I am glad that a prolific burglar has now been sentenced for his crimes, following a thorough investigation by officers on the Investigation Hub.”