Burglar jailed for nearly three years for 135th criminal offence
A serial criminal who burgled a woman's house in his latest crime has been jailed for almost three years.
Leigh Boulton's theft of a £700 computer and a purse from a property in Cannock was his 135th criminal offence, Stafford Crown Court heard.
Mr Nick Burn, prosecuting, said police arrested Boulton in Market Street, Hednesford in the early hours of April 5 when they saw him carrying a laptop.
He was also found with two torches and a pair of gloves, the hearing was told.
The computer had been taken from a house in Dove Hollow. The occupier had gone to bed leaving the property secure, but when she got up found the laptop and her mother's purse had gone.
The court was told that the back gate to the house had also been damaged.
Boulton, aged 34, of High Meadow, Cannock Wood, admitted a charge of burglary.
The court heard that the defendant was liable to a minimum sentence of three years due to laws aimed at cracking down on offenders who repeatedly target people's homes.
And Judge Mark Eades told him: "You are an experienced criminal, only 34, with 51 convictions for 134 previous offences. You are now a third strike burglar.
"You were a significant distance from your home with torches and gloves. It looks to me like a burglary trip."
The judge said Boulton's sentence should start at four years, but he had to have a third discount for his guilty plea. He was jailed for 32 months.
Mr Nick Ryles, defending, said there had been minimal damage to the property and no disturbance inside the house.
