A burglar who took his dog with him as he targeted two houses has been jailed after the distinctive brown and white pet helped officers to track his movements.
Anthony Bailey, aged 39, attempted to use the animal as a defence when he was caught trying to break-in to a property in Sidney Road, Beeston.
Police say that Bailey claimed to have been retrieving the animal after it had apparently wandered into the man’s garden on the afternoon of 27 February this year.
He had also disturbed a woman in the bathroom of a property in nearby Bramcote Drive before running away with a small amount of jewellery.
Officers received an excellent description of Bailey from both victims and were later able to use several CCTV and security cameras to place Bailey and his dog at the scene of both crimes.
Mobile phone data also proved he had been in the area in the time.
When he was arrested two days later, the dog was found at his home along with the same items of clothing he had been wearing on the day.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday, Bailey, of Radburn Court, Stapleford, pleaded guilty to burglary and attempted burglary and was jailed or five-and-a-half years.
Detective Sergeant Ben Skellern, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“The officers involved were quickly able to identify Bailey and build a very strong case against him – thanks in no small part to very distinctive dog he was walking with that afternoon.
“As with any case of this nature, we conducted a trawl of local camera footage and animal’s presence certainly made it easier for us to identify him in the many hours of footage we reviewed.
“Bailey is a prolific offender who appears to care little about the impact his offending has on his victims, who in this case include a young woman who received a horrible shock in her own home.
“I am pleased he has now been brought to justice and hope this latest spell behind bars finally compels him to change his ways.”
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