- A serial burglar who posed for a photograph at his victim’s home has been jailed
- Derek Mulvaney, 51, posed for the snap in exchange to being allowed to leave
- He had been caught red-handed by the victim in Folkestone, Kent
A serial burglar who posed for a photograph after breaking into someone’s home has been jailed for four years.
Derek Mulvaney, 51, posed for the snap in exchange for being allowed to leave after being caught red-handed by the victim in Folkestone, Kent.
Canterbury Crown Court heard on Wednesday how Mulvaney was pinned to the floor after bursting out of a room and trying to barge past the man in his home.
Derek Mulvaney, 51, posed for the snap in exchange of being allowed to leave after being caught red-handed by the victim in Folkestone, Kent
The victim had been alerted to the intruder when he returned home from work on February 9 at around 8.15pm and his dog began barking at a half-open door.
Mulvaney, of no fixed address, was escorted downstairs where he apologised and begged to leave the man’s home.
He agreed to a picture being taken of him in exchange for being allowed to escape empty-handed.
His photograph was then passed on to police officers who arrested him 11 days later following a public appeal.
A serial burglar who posed for a photograph after breaking into someone’s home has been jailed for four years
Police Constable Richard Glass of Kent Police said: ‘While Derek Mulvaney was previously unknown to us, we have since established he has a lengthy criminal record for other offences of burglary and theft committed outside of Kent.
‘He pleaded to be let go when caught red-handed by the victim in this case, who understandably did not want Mulvaney inside his home any longer than necessary.
‘Instead he had the foresight to take a photograph of him, which led to Mulvaney’s arrest.
‘Burglary is a terrible crime that has a long-lasting impact on victims and I am glad the judge acknowledged the seriousness of Mulvaney’s offending in sentencing him to four years in prison.’
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