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| Mansfield: Burglar jailed after raiding homes of elderly women | Mansfield: Burglar jailed after raiding homes of elderly women |
| (25 days later) | |
| William Neil's crime spree came to an end after he was spotted by police | William Neil's crime spree came to an end after he was spotted by police |
| A burglar has been jailed after he broke into the homes of two elderly women. | A burglar has been jailed after he broke into the homes of two elderly women. |
| William Neil, 51, targeted the properties of his victims, 79 and 74, within minutes on the same street in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. | William Neil, 51, targeted the properties of his victims, 79 and 74, within minutes on the same street in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. |
| After Neil was caught by police, he pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary at court and was jailed for three and a half years on Friday. | After Neil was caught by police, he pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary at court and was jailed for three and a half years on Friday. |
| Nottinghamshire Police said his crimes were "absolutely despicable". | Nottinghamshire Police said his crimes were "absolutely despicable". |
| The court heard Neil, of Sherwood Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, targeted the two neighbouring homes within the space of a few minutes just after 21:15 BST on 16 September 2023. | The court heard Neil, of Sherwood Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, targeted the two neighbouring homes within the space of a few minutes just after 21:15 BST on 16 September 2023. |
| The first incident involved Neil sneaking inside a property through a back door, police said. | The first incident involved Neil sneaking inside a property through a back door, police said. |
| He came across the homeowner - a bedridden 79-year-old woman - and demanded cash but fled empty-handed. | He came across the homeowner - a bedridden 79-year-old woman - and demanded cash but fled empty-handed. |
| He struck again minutes later when he snatched a 74-year-old woman's handbag in her home and ran. | He struck again minutes later when he snatched a 74-year-old woman's handbag in her home and ran. |
| Neil burgled the homes after he stole from two shops. He admitted those thefts and was sentenced separately to 18 weeks in prison. | Neil burgled the homes after he stole from two shops. He admitted those thefts and was sentenced separately to 18 weeks in prison. |
| He went on to admit the two burglaries and received the additional three-and-a-half year jail term. | He went on to admit the two burglaries and received the additional three-and-a-half year jail term. |
| Sgt Colin Jones, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Neil's decision to target properties belonging to elderly people in a bid to steal their belongings was absolutely despicable. This must've been an incredibly alarming experience." | Sgt Colin Jones, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Neil's decision to target properties belonging to elderly people in a bid to steal their belongings was absolutely despicable. This must've been an incredibly alarming experience." |
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