Burglar who stole more than £27,000 worth of property in west London is jailed for four years

A burglar who stole thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and pulled a knife as residents tried to stop him in one incident has been jailed for four years.

John James Courtney, 44, stole property worth £27,600 in west London, including £15,800 worth of items from just one address.

He was identified after his DNA was found at or near all of the scenes.

Courtney, of Longbridge Road, Dagenham, committed four burglaries carried out between August 2019 and January this year.

He was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on April 23.

Courtney struck at an address in Linden Gardens, Notting Hill, on August 31 last year. While the occupant was out, he broke into the property and stole a number of high value items of jewellery, including necklaces, bracelets, rings and a watch.

He also snatched two laptops and a designer handbag. The total value of items stolen was £15,800. A blood smear discovered on the door lock was tested and provided a positive match to Courtney.

Courtney was in the process of carrying out a burglary in Cleveland Street, Fitzrovia, on September 30, when he was interrupted by the occupants returning home.

As they made efforts to detain him, Courtney grabbed a knife, lunging at one of the occupants. A struggle ensued, during which Courtney’s glasses were broken. Both his glasses and the knife – which he dropped while running from the property – were recovered by officers and proved vital in linking him to the incident.

The resident of a property in Queen’s Gardens, Bayswater, received notification via his mobile phone that a camera inside the property had been activated on October 16.

He saw Courtney at his address live on CCTV. He told Courtney he was calling police – but Courtney continued to search the flat before fleeing.

But he left a mobile phone at the scene, which officers were able to link him to forensically.

Courtney stole a laptop and items of jewellery including a Rolex watch from a residence in Clifton Road, Edgware Road, on January 10 this year.

A piece of wood left at the scene and used by Courtney to force entry to the address were found. The total value of items stolen was £11,200.

He was spotted and detained by police on February 11.

Courtney pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary dwelling and theft, breach of a criminal behaviour order and possession of a Class B drug.

 

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