A bumbling serial burglar who compiled a massive list of 109 previous crimes gave himself away for brazenly wearing a telltale GPS tracking tag during a house search.
Condemning doorbell camera images of prolific criminal John Stoddard were also posted on social media and he told police after his arrest: “I know. My face was all over Facebook.”
After his imprisonment at Hull Crown Court, he apologized to his victims, saying they didn’t deserve it and he has now vowed to “do better this time”.
READ ALSO: Young motorcyclist rode his bike into a police officer in ‘terrific’ confrontation in Hull
Stoddard, 52, of Melrose Street, off Anlaby Road, Hull, admitted to a burglary on June 14 and requested that another burglary on June 12 be considered.
Ryan Donoghue, the prosecutor, said Stoddard and an accomplice searched a house on Great Passage Street, Riverside, Hull but they were filmed with a doorbell camera and the footage was uploaded to social media.
Inside the property, Stoddard and the woman broke into rooms and stole items, including five old telephones with photographs of sentimental value attached. The loot also included an electric drill, tobacco pouches, a computer tablet and medicines.
There was also a bag containing a Pandora ring that belonged to the resident’s daughter and had been given for her birthday. The tablet was recovered the next day.
“The defendant was linked to the incident through a GPS tracking tag,” Mr Donoghue said. Stoddard and the woman were arrested the next day. He told police: “I know. My face was all over Facebook.”
He claimed he committed the burglary spontaneously to raise money for drugs. His 109 offenses to date include 95 for theft or similar and, since 2015, six burglaries. He had a license after being released from prison after previously being convicted of burglary.
Michael Forrest said mildly that during his incarceration, Stoddard took every possible step to “rid himself of all the illnesses that were the triggers of drug addiction,” but when he was released from prison, he encountered “an obstacle.” Barrier ” and encountered bad influences.
Join our WhatsApp community to get the latest crime news
Get the latest crime and court news in Hull direct to your mobile via WhatsApp by clicking here.
If you don’t like our community, you can always leave. In addition, we offer our members special offers, promotions and advertising from us and our partners. Read our privacy policy here.
He relapsed into cocaine and heroin addiction and began committing larceny. “He has expressed remorse,” Mr. Forrest said. “When he’s not pumping drugs through his body, he’s a different man.”
Judge Kate Rayfield told Stoddard, “I don’t underestimate the hideous reality of an addiction to Class A drugs and I can’t imagine what it’s like to break free of it.”
But domestic burglaries were committed in “people’s safe place” where they kept all things that were important to them and that were of value to them.
Hundreds of pounds’ worth of items were stolen in that burglary and some of these, including the phones with old photos on them, had sentimental value. “They were licensed at the time,” Judge Rayfield said.
Stoddard was sentenced to three years in prison. Before being taken to the cell, he told the court: “I’m sorry for the people I hurt. You do not deserve it. I will improve this time.”
Comments are closed.