Mansfield: Burglar jailed after raiding homes of elderly women

William Neil's crime spree came to an end after he was spotted by police

A burglar has been jailed after he broke into the homes of two elderly women.

William Neil, 51, targeted the properties of his victims, 79 and 74, within minutes on the same street in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

After Neil was caught by police, he pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary at court and was jailed for three and a half years on Friday.

Nottinghamshire Police said his crimes were "absolutely despicable".

The court heard Neil, of Sherwood Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, targeted the two neighbouring homes within the space of a few minutes just after 21:15 BST on 16 September 2023.

The first incident involved Neil sneaking inside a property through a back door, police said.

He came across the homeowner - a bedridden 79-year-old woman - and demanded cash but fled empty-handed.

He struck again minutes later when he snatched a 74-year-old woman's handbag in her home and ran.

Neil burgled the homes after he stole from two shops. He admitted those thefts and was sentenced separately to 18 weeks in prison.

He went on to admit the two burglaries and received the additional three-and-a-half year jail term.

Sgt Colin Jones, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Neil's decision to target properties belonging to elderly people in a bid to steal their belongings was absolutely despicable. This must've been an incredibly alarming experience."