Passer-by stops spree

An alert member of the public who took down the number of a suspicious car, ended a high value burglary spree in north Notts.

By The Newsroom

Published 30th Jan 2012, 14:22 BST

Over 12 days last August four day-time burglaries and one attempt were carried out in Beckingham, Ranskill, Edwinstowe and Retford.

Richard Lee, 29, of George Street, Gainsborough, admitted his part in the raids and has been jailed for 18 months. A public-spirited passer-by travelling along Follynook Lane, Ranskill, became suspicious of a hatchback with the bonnet up, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

A man appeared to be doing repairs to the car but the witness took the registration number and passed it to the police, said Dawn Pritchard, prosecuting on Tuesday.

Police stopped the same car in Gainsborough. Lee denied entering the houses and said he was assisting his heroin supplier by driving him round to carry out the break-ins.