Prolific burglar jailed after 'rampage' across city

Robert Rust was jailed after a spate of burglaries in Cambridge

A prolific burglar who had carried out more than 125 offences has been jailed after his latest "rampage", police said.

Robert Rust, 37, of Stirling Road, Northstowe, in Cambridgeshire, used a sledgehammer, a brick and a concrete block to break into premises in Cambridge and steal tools, cash, an electric scooter and alcohol, among other items.

He admitted seven counts of burglary and one of theft, carried out between March and April.

At Huntingdon Law Courts on Thursday, Rust was sentenced to 23 months in jail.

Rust took £1,800 of scratch cards, alcohol and cash from Co-Op in Milton Road where he left behind a sledgehammer with his DNA

He targeted shops in the Chesterton area of the city, as well as Newmarket Road and Addenbrooke's Hospital.

Rust was arrested on 11 April after breaking into a Nisa shop in Green End Road where he was confronted by a shop worker who called police.

PC Samantha Chapman, from Cambridgeshire Police, said: "Rust is a prolific thief and burglar with 55 convictions for 125 offences.

"He has caused misery to businesses across Cambridge and we hope this latest sentence provides some respite to businesses affected by his offending and that Rust himself takes the opportunities given to him to help stop his offending."

The 37-year-old took £400 cash from Tesco in High Street, Chesterton

'Rust's rampage'

• Rust first struck on 2 March at B&Q in Newmarket Road where he stole tools including an electronic screwdriver and an angle grinder.

• On 12 March he broke into the staff bike shed at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and took a £300 electric scooter.

• The 37-year-old then took £400 cash from Tesco in High Street, Chesterton on 18 March.

• Two days later he took £1,800 of scratch cards, alcohol and cash from Co-Op in Milton Road where he left behind a sledgehammer with his DNA.

• Rust’s rampage continued on 24 March when he smashed the door of The Red Mug in Chesterton Road and stole £40, again leaving his DNA behind.

• He used a brick to smash a shop front on Green End Road on 27 March where he stole cash and alcohol before breaking into Lewis Barbershop in Unwin Square the same day using a concrete block to enter and steal £50 and a laptop.

• Rust was arrested on 11 April after breaking into Nisa in Green End Road where he was confronted by a shop worker who called police.