Second man jailed for dog flap burglary

Ben Hatto took "sentimental and irreplaceable items" including watches, earrings and a Tiffany gold ring

A second man has been jailed after breaking into a house through a dog flap and stealing valuables worth £5,000, including cash, jewellery, watches and a laptop.

Ben Hatto, 43, of North Denes Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, burgled the house in Impington, Cambridgeshire, on 24 June 2021, while his victim was out shopping, police said.

He admitted burglary at Peterborough Crown Court on Tuesday and was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison.

His accomplice, Winston Papalaka, 28, from Harold Road, London, has already been found guilty of burglary and jailed.

Fingerprint evidence linked Hatto to the crime, said Cambridgeshire Police, while the pair were spotted by "eagle-eyed residents".

'Huge impact'

Their victim noticed the damage to the dog flap, which was in the back door, on her return home.

The pair left through the front door, but Papalaka was spotted by someone who recognised him.

He was seen throwing items out of a laptop bag around his neck and when officers checked the area, they found a post office seal bag. Forensic tests revealed it had Hatto's fingerprints inside.

The pair also discarded some of the jewellery.

Det Con Lisa Bacon said: "Burglary is an invasion of your home – the place you should feel safest.

"It can have a huge impact on victims, not only because of sentimental and irreplaceable items stolen, but also the devastation of no longer feeling safe."