Gardener jailed for stealing from employer of 25 years
He worked with an accomplice to take thousands of pounds' worth of personal items
Last updated 4th Jul 2024
A gardener who worked with an accomplice to steal thousands of pounds from his employer of 25 years in West Sussex has been jailed.
Robert Mansbridge and Craig Preston secretly burgled from the property in Portsmouth Lane in Lindfield, near Haywards Heath on May 4th last year.
The pair took personal items and jewellery from the occupants.
A large amount of stolen items were found in the vehicle they were in when the pair were arrested the following day.
57-year-old Mansbridge, of no fixed address, was found guilty by the jury following a four day trial at Lewes Crown Court on April 2nd.
42-year-old Preston, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to the charge.
They were sentenced to a combined seven years’ imprisonment when they appeared before Lewes Crown Court last Monday (June 24th).
Mansbridge was jailed for four years and Preston was jailed for three years.
Detective Chief Inspector Colin Garman from Sussex Police said:
"This imprisonment of Mansbridge and Preston will have prevented them committing many further residential burglaries in Mid Sussex.
"Most importantly, the sentence gives the victims and their family peace of mind after Mansbridge and Preston breached years of trust by committing this offence.
"The team worked extremely hard to secure this result."