Stolen cars used for string of burglaries

Slough: Four men sentenced for part in lockdown crime spree

Four men have been sentenced for their part in a ‘devastating’ string of burglaries and thefts in Slough, Windsor, Ascot amd Staines during lockdown.

Brian Seagrove, 44 and Jason Seagrove, 45, of no fixed address, and Daniel Vellenoweth, 40, of Heston Grange in Hounslow were given prison sentences, while Kevin Bodman, 43, of Sand Martins in Bracknell, was handed a suspended prison sentence at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday.

The men were arrested after cars were stolen in several domestic ‘vamoose’ burglaries across Slough, Windsor, Ascot and Staines between January and July 2020.

The stolen cars were disguised with stolen number plates and then used to commit three knife-point armed robberies and three commercial burglaries to steal cigarettes and cash in South Bucks. Stolen bank cards were also used in several incidents of fraud.

The four men were arrested on July 1 2020 and charged in May 2022.

At Reading Crown Court on November 27 2022, Jason Seagrove pleaded guilty to:

■ Nine counts of residential burglaries;

■ Five counts of theft from a motor vehicle;

■ Four counts of fraud;

■ Three counts of robbery;

■ Three counts of commercial burglaries;

■ One count each of conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit burglary dwelling, conspiracy to commit commercial burglary, conspiracy to commit theft and conspiracy to commit fraud.

Vellenoweth pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit fraud and commercial burglary.

Bodman pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary dwelling, two counts of shed burglary and one count of conspiracy to commit commercial burglary.

Brian Seagrove pleaded guilty to one count each of burglary dwelling and commercial burglary.

Investigating officer PC James Rex, based at Slough police station, said: “Following this lengthy and complex investigation into a series of burglaries and thefts, I am pleased that these men have been sentenced.

“These offences occurred during the lockdown in 2020, and the offenders took full advantage of the mask-wearing to hide their identification.

“Burglary is a horrendous crime that has devastating and long-lasting effects on victims and Thames Valley Police are absolutely committed to ensuring offenders are brought to justice.

“I would like to thank our colleagues at Surrey Police for their support.

“The sentences given by the court reflect the seriousness of the offences, which, I hope, will reassure our communities that we will robustly pursue offenders and investigate such crimes.”

At the Reading Crown Court hearing on Tuesday, Jason Seagrove was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment;

Daniel Vellenoweth was sentenced to two years and six months’ imprisonment and Kevin Bodman was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence.

In a previous hearing at the same court on October 17 2023, Brian Seagrove, was sentenced to two years and four months’ imprisonment.