Three Sunderland burglars jailed for Christmas

Steven Lamb, 39, sneaked into a family’s garage in Queen Alexandra Road, Sunderland, at around 4.15am on October 1 and woke up the occupants.

Upon hearing suspicious noises from the garage, the victim went to investigate and found Lamb stood inside with a crowbar.

The thief tried to make off but was successfully chased down by the occupant and his step-son and detained until police arrived to arrest him.

It emerged that Lamb had also carried out three similar break-ins across the city.

Lamb, of Sapphire Road, Sunderland, admitted four counts of burglary at Newcastle Crown Court earlier this week and was jailed for three years.

Andrew Haikney, 35, meanwhile, smashed a window of a house in Milburn Terrace, in Shiney Row, on September 11 in a bid to grab some valuables.

After breaking in, he swiped a woman’s handbag containing personal items along with an iPad.

Unfortunately for him, he was caught on CCTV at a nearby shop brazenly walking away from the address with the bag and was later arrested.

Haikney, of Blind Lane, Silksworth, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to 876 days in jail when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court last week.

The third burglar, prolific offender Julie Shields, 36, is also behind bars after breaching court orders.

She received suspended sentences earlier this year following convictions for burglary, theft and harassment, the latter relating to a man who had employed her to do some gardening work.

After persistently harassing the Wallsend resident, she was banned from contacting him.

But she ignored the restraining order and continued to bombard him with texts and turn up at his address.

Shields was hauled back in front of magistrates on North Tyneside last week and convicted of one count of breaching a restraining order as well as breaching two suspended sentences.

Shields, of Kenilworth Court, Washington, was jailed for 36 weeks as a result and will now spend the entire festive period locked up.

Support your Echo and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on SAFC and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.