Man who burgled elderly woman's home while she lay in bed jailed

Her carer called the police after finding the a window and garage door open

Author: Maria GreenwoodPublished 24th Jul 2023

A man who burgled the house of an 80 year old woman in Bournemouth while she lay in bed has been jailed.

Daniel Simon Bolton, aged 34 and of Bournemouth, was jailed for five years and two months on Thursday 13 July 2023 at Bristol Crown Court for burglary, four counts of fraud by false representation, two breaches of a suspended sentence order and handling stolen goods.

Between 7pm on Saturday 17 December and 7am on Sunday 18 December 2022 a woman aged in her 80s was in bed at her address in the Southbourne area.

On the morning of Sunday 18 December 2022, the victim’s carer arrived at the property and noticed that a window was open, as well as a garage door.

The victim’s bank card had been stolen and was subsequently used to make transactions in a number of shops on the same day.

CCTV enquiries were carried out at the shops and Bolton was identified as the man using the cards.

Crime scene investigators attended and following a forensic examination of a chisel found at the address, DNA was recovered and found to be that of Bolton.

Bolton was also sentenced for an offence of handling stolen goods in relation to an incident that occurred in Christchurch Road in Bournemouth in December 2022, as well as a burglary that occurred in Bristol.

Detective Constable Michelle Lawrence, of Dorset Police, said: “It is completely unacceptable to enter someone’s home and steal their property from where they should feel safe.

“I am pleased that through our enquiries we were able to identify Bolton and bring him before the court to face justice for his actions.”

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