Notts man “masterminded” burglaries from Bulwell home

Kane Gordon sent instructions to two teenage accomplices who burgled homes on Devonshire Road, on January 4, and Whinlatter Drive and Sliverhow Close, on January 7, all in West Bridgford.

Prosecutor Priya Bakshi said a games console, a Tag watch, a wallet and a Mercedes car were stolen in the first burglary.

"He was texting the others and advising them where to find nice items, video games and watches,” she said. "Within hours of the burglary he was advertising the items for sale."

During the January 7 burglaries, when a number of items and another car were stolen, Gordon texted instructions on where to park and street view images.

All three were arrested in Bulwell close to the stolen car the next day, and some stolen items were found at his home.

Gordon was on bail at the time, after he was arrested in April 2019 at the wheel of a stolen BMW, when he told police he had been paid to drive it for someone else.

The court heard he has nine previous convictions, including a non-dwelling burglary in April 2015, for which he received a 12-month community order.

Almas Ben-Aribia, mitigating, said: "This is his first tast of custody. He has already served the equivalent of a 12-month sentence since his arrest. This has been a difficult experience.”

Gordon, a father of three, hopes to return to work for a house clearance company, she added.

The 23-year-old, of Ellsworth Rise, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, conspiracy to commit burglaries, and driving without insurance or a licence.

Judge Timothy Spencer QC said: "This was a cynical campaign of targeted house burglaries. In some of them children were at home. Imagine how you would feel if your house was burgled when your children were there.

"This was exploitation of those younger than you. You were using them as some sort of latter day Fagin, if you have ever read Oliver Twist.”

He sentenced Gordon to two years in prison and banned him for 15 months, at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.