Burglar’s car crashed as trio fled the scene of jewellery raid

SERIAL burglar was involved in a car crash as he and two accomplices made off with a valuable haul of jewellery.

When the police caught up with Martin Faulkner at his home they then found a stolen Gucci handbag and an Apple MacBook from another break-in.

These items had been given by him to his daughter.

The 36-year-old admitted burglary in Tatlow Road, Glenfield, on Friday June 18, when high-value gold wedding jewellery, an engagement ring, cufflinks, a wallet, a bankcard and other items were stolen.

Faulkner, of Hollins Road, Braunstone, Leicester, also admitted handling a MacBook and handbag after they were stolen by persons unknown from an address in Cranstone Crescent, Braunstone Frith.

He further pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing cannabis.

At the time of the offences Faulkner was on licence from a fouryear jail sentence imposed in 2019, for a group burglary at Leicester Renal Dialysis Unit, in Crest Drive, Hamilton.

Four vehicles used to transport patients for treatment were stolen, along with office equipment, causing a total loss valued at £33,000.

Paul Prior, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court the defendant and two others, involved in the Tatlow Road daytime burglary, made off in a Ford Focus, belonging to Faulkner, which crashed and the occupants fled, leaving most of the stolen valuables behind.

They were recovered by the police, along with a small amount of cannabis.

The police went to the defendant’s home on July 1, where Faulkner claimed he sold the Ford Focus on the same morning as the burglary.

However, his DNA was found on an activated airbag inside the vehicle.

A small amount of cannabis was found in the house, along with the Gucci bag and MacBook, given to his daughter.

Sentencing, Judge Philip Head said: “You have a pretty awful record of 37 previous offence and were still on licence when you and two others committed a burglary.

“Although there’s a dispute as to who was the driver, it makes no difA ference as you were jointly responsible.

“Two of the group forced entry causing £1,200 damage to the security system and a door.”

The couple who lived there were left in extreme distress and had to install a new alarm system.

The judge said the Asian wedding jewellery taken would have been of “considerable sentimental value”.

Judge Head said within a short time of another burglary the defendant handled a stolen handbag as well as a MacBook that “unbelievably was given to your child”.

He said: “You put your child at risk of being in possession of stolen goods.”

The judge said he sympathized with the defendant’s mental health problems but said the use of cannabis “would not be helping”.

Matthew Hardyman, mitigating, said Faulkner was in a highly distressed state before the hearing.

He said Faulkner told him: “I don’t know why I do this, I can’t cope in prison.”

The barrister said his client’s mental health had deteriorated and the defendant had vowed this case marked the end of his offending.

Mr Hardyman said: “He’s ashamed he’s let his family down and caused them disappointment.

“He accepts the burglary was a joint enterprise, but says he didn’t leave the car and he didn’t go into the house.

“Fortunately, the high-value property was recovered.”

Faulkner was jailed for three years and nine months.