Burglar targeted home of his neighbour

A burglar targeted his neighbour's home and stole thousands of pounds worth of jewellery.

Rings, necklaces and bracelets were swiped by Colin Kane from Andrew and Sharon Hughes. Much of the haul, worth around £25,000, has not been returned to the couple, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday.

Today, his victims said they were "disgusted" at being burgled by a neighbour.

"It is a quiet place to live and you don't expect it," said mother-of-one Mrs Hughes, a lunchtime supervisor at Old Park Primary School, in Wednesbury.

"He took things that are of real sentimental value to the family. Jewellery from my mum, Clara, and dad, Fred, was taken.

"They are no longer alive so it matters even more. He is scum and I hope he gets jail for what he has done."

Mrs Hughes, aged 45, said her 12-year-old daughter Grace had not been to sleep in her own room alone since the burglary on April 5.

During the raid, Kane, now of Lime Road, Dudley, smashed into the Hughes' house on Grainger Close, Tipton, through the conservatory and ransacked the place before making-off. It is believed Kane was living with a partner on Grainger Close when the offence took place.

He admitted one charge of burglary and was bailed yesterday to be sentenced next month.

Mrs Hughes, whose 47-year-old husband is a workshop foreman at Dudley Borough Council, said: "He smashed the doors with a shovel and there was a right mess when we got back."

Prosecutor Mr David Lees said Kane had admitted the offence on May 13. He will be sentenced on July 8.