JAILED: Trio who burgled homes in Mansfield while occupants slept

The trio have been sentenced to a combined total of seven years and nine months for four burglaries, including a ram-raid, and stealing two cars.

All four burglaries happened in the Mansfield and Mansfield Woodhouse areas between 11pm on Sunday July 16 2017 and 5am the following day.

The first burglary happened on Dunsil Road, Mansfield Woodhouse, where they forced entry to a house and stole a Saab and Vauxhall Corsa, both red in colour. Cash and a wallet were also stolen.

The second happened on Cromwell Street, Mansfield, where they broke in through a back door and stole a computer tablet, purse and PlayStation.

At around 3.40am a car was used to break through a metal-roller security door at Bookers Cash and Carry, Mansfield, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. Alcohol was stolen from the shop and a brake light lens and rear wiper blade were left at the scene.

Following this, a man was woken up by his dog barking in Berry Hill Mews, Mansfield. After hearing music playing in his garage, he went to investigate and found his car with the ignition running. His wallet had also been stolen.

At around 4.20am officers saw a red Saab leaving Berry Hill Mews, before two men ran from the car shouting “see ya later”. Stolen goods from the targeted properties were recovered from the car.

A police helicopter helped officers in their search and at 5am, Jake Collier and Curtis Swinscoe were found hiding in bushes in Kings Walk and arrested. They both had cuts on their hands and faces from thorns. In custody, Jake Collier was further arrested for possession of cannabis.

Forty-five minutes later, 21-year-old Tristan Fretwell was stopped by an officer on Woodhouse Road, out of breath with similar fresh cuts on his legs; he was then arrested.

The burglary series concluded at 8.45am on the Monday morning when a member of the public reported an abandoned red Vauxhall Corsa on Muskham Court, Mansfield. It was missing a rear wiper blade and had a damaged brake light.

Jake Collier, 20, of Watson Street, Warsop, pleaded guilty to three dwelling burglaries, a commercial burglary and theft of two cars and possession of cannabis when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on September 14 2017. He received 27 months for the dwelling burglaries, one year for the commercial burglary and one year for the theft of motor vehicles; both to run concurrently.

Tristan Fretwell, 21, of Haydn Road, Nottingham, was found guilty of two dwelling burglaries, a commercial burglary and theft of two cars. He appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on May 23 2018 following a two-day trial. He received four years for the dwelling burglaries, one year for the commercial burglary and one year for the theft of motor vehicles; both to run concurrently.

Curtis Swinscoe, 19, of Walton Crescent, Carlton, was also found guilty at Nottingham Crown Court on the same day as Fretwell. He was found guilty of the burglary in Berry Hill Mews and the commercial burglary at Bookers Cash and Carry. He then admitted to driving the Saab without a licence or insurance and was sentenced to 18 months for the single dwelling burglary, six months for the commercial burglary to run concurrently and six points on his driver’s licence.

All three men appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday 15 June for sentencing.

Detective Inspector Rebecca Hodgman said: “These three men maliciously crept around people’s houses while they were sleeping and had complete disregard for their hard-earned property. This type of invasion, particularly during the night, can have serious long-lasting psychological effects on victims.

“Stealing someone’s car could also take away their ability to work, take care of their children or visit sick family members; so the fact that they used the vehicles in such a damaging and selfish way proves that they deserve to be behind bars.”