A callous burglar who preyed on elderly victims was chased down and arrested by a patrolling officer who spotted him in the street.
Connor Cooper, aged 24, was identified as the prime suspect after two bungalows were broken into on the same afternoon in Newark.
Days later, response officers on patrol in the Balderton area spotted him in Warwick Road and turned their police car around in order to approach him.
Cooper fled down a footpath and so PC Ali Hussain jumped out of the police car before chasing him on foot.
During the chase he noticed Cooper throw a bag over a fence into a rear garden, which was retrieved by another officer.
Inside the rucksack, officers found a screwdriver and clothing including a balaclava and gloves.
Cooper failed to outrun PC Hussain and was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with both burglaries and going equipped to steal.
He pleaded guilty to all three crimes and he was jailed for six years at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday 13 March.
The hearing was told Cooper committed the two burglaries on Sunday 11 January in order to pay off a large drug debt.
He targeted a bungalow in Hawton Road, Newark, at around 12.30pm, shortly after its 91-year-old occupant left the address to go out for lunch.
When he returned, the elderly man found his kitchen window had been smashed and jewellery belonging to his late wife missing, leaving him very distressed.
Shortly after 1.30pm, Cooper broke into another bungalow in Bowbridge Road. The court heard its 88-year-old occupant was home at the time of the break-in and that he tried to snatch her wedding ring from her finger, but was unsuccessful in doing so. The contents of the victim’s purse were stolen during the burglary.
Chief Inspector Paul Hennessy, who is responsible for county response officers, said Cooper had committed appalling crimes and welcomed the custodial sentence. He said:
“Any burglary on a home is an appalling and invasive crime. However, the targeting of elderly occupants is cowardly and utterly deplorable.
“While on patrol, PC Hussain recognised Cooper as being circulated on our systems as potentially responsible for these crimes.
“When he saw the police, he decided not to stay around very long and make a run for it.
“However, PC Hussain was ready to give chase and arrested him within minutes.
“Other officers also recovered a bag containing tools that we believe were going to be used to commit further offences.
“It is not lost on us the impact that burglaries have on our communities and I’d like to thank the investigation team for their hard work in putting Cooper behind bars.
“By analysing evidence including CCTV, we were able to identify Cooper as a suspect, arrest and charge him. We then presented a case which left him with no alternative but to plead guilty.
“I’m pleased a judge has now put him behind bars where he can hopefully reflect on his offending.”
•  Rushcliffe residents can recycle Tetra Pak and more in blue bin from March 31
