Burglar jailed for distracting woman while pretending to be Brentwood Council worker

John Wright was jailed on Friday 

A man has been jailed for his role in a distraction burglary which targeted an elderly woman.

John Wright, 28, pretended to be Brentwood council worker and claimed to need to go into the woman’s house to fix a damaged fence.

The victim had actually reported the fence to the council before and let Wright in.

But while they were in the garden of her home, a second man called to Wright from the house, claiming they had an urgent job they needed to attend and the pair left.

After they left, the victim, who is in her 80s, discovered items including bank cards and hundreds of pounds of cash had been stolen.

She called the police, who used ANPR cameras to identify a van involved which belonged to Wright.

He was arrested, ans picked out by the victim during an identification procedure

Wright, 28, of Victoria Road, Horndon-on-the-Hill, denied burglary but was convicted and, at Basildon Crown Court on Friday, 7 February, he was jailed for three years.

Detective Constable Frankie Cole, from Brentwood CID, said: “John Wright targeted an elderly woman and conned his way into her home. While he had her distracted, she was burgled.

“Burglary is a horrible, invasive crime which can leave the victim feeling unsafe in their own home. Your home should be your refuge and nobody should be left feeling this way.

“I would urge anyone who is unsure of the identity of persons visiting them to not allow them into their home, and to make enquiries with the company or organisation to confirm the person is legitimate before allowing anyone unannounced into their home.”