Burglar with 20-year crime record locked up for trying to target Stourbridge house

Paul Mainwood's latest actions led to West Midlands Police launching a public appeal in a bid to track him down.

He admitted one offence of attempted burglary at a property in Ferndale Park, in Pedmore, Stourbridge, on June 11 at a previous hearing.

Mainwood, 45, who has links to Wednesbury, Dudley and Kingswinford, has previous convictions for similar matters dating back 20 years and was sentenced for his latest crime at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday.

Judge Neil Chawla said the case had a number of aggravating features that placed it in the high culpability category in the sentencing guidelines.

"There must have been some degree of planning. there was someone at the premises when you were attempting to burgle it. You were stopped at the entry point which was locked.

"The situation is also aggravated by the length of your previous convictions for dishonesty including dwelling house burglary and the fact that this was carried out while you were on licence. I am also mindful that I must keep the sentence to the shortest possible length commensurate with my public duty.

"If there had been a trial, given your previous convictions the sentence would have been two-and-a-half years. Nevertheless you pleaded guilty at the magistrates court and you get one-third credit for that.

"You were recalled to prison, your record is poor and the appropriate sentence is immediate custody," Judge Chawla added.

Mainwood, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment minus the five months spent on remand since his subsequent arrest on June 27. He must serve half the term before being released on licence with conditions.

There was no order for costs. Mainwood must pay the victims' surcharge.