Peterborough burglar who left 86-year-old injured after terrifying raid jailed for more than seven years

A Peterborough burglar who carried out a string of ‘terrifying’ burglaries across the country has been jailed for more than seven years.

Larry Rooney, (39), of Hampton Vale, admitted carrying out a spate of opportunistic distraction burglaries across Peterborough, Ellesmere Port and north Wales.

Now he has been jailed for seven and a half years.

Police described the raids as ‘terrifying,’ and said they were ‘delighted’ with the sentence handed out to Rooney at Mold Crown Court in Wales.

86-year-old injured after Rooney pushed her

The court heard how one incident happened on Saturday 16 July, when Rooney knocked on the door at an address on Stanney Lane in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, purporting that he had come to check the water supply.

The owner of the property, an 86-year-old woman, showed Rooney to the water stop taps before he began searching through her wardrobe and drawers.

When the victim became aware that something was wrong, she told Rooney to leave her house. He pushed past the woman as he left the address, causing her to fall and sustain minor injuries.

Rooney was arrested by officers from North Wales Police on Tuesday 19 July and was subsequently charged with three counts of burglary with intent to steal, which he admitted at court.

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also arrested along with Rooney and was handed a ten month youth supervision order after pleading guilty to two counts of burglary with intent to steal.

“I hope that the sentences handed down by the courts provides some reassurance to our communities"

Detective Constable Stuart Wood of Cheshire Police said the investigation – which involved three different police forces – had been a big team effort. He said : “During this investigation, we worked closely with North Wales Police and Cambridgeshire Police to help identify the offenders.

“These incidents were absolutely terrifying ordeals for the victims, to be confronted by an intruder in their own home, the one place we should all be able to feel safe.

“Thankfully, as a result of partnership work, this crime spree was ended quickly, and he is now facing the consequences of his actions.

“I hope that the sentences handed down by the courts provides some reassurance to our communities, demonstrating that we are committed to doing all we can to tackle this type of criminality.

“I also hope that it acts as a warning that we will not stop in pursuing those bringing misery to our local communities.”

Sentence ‘sends a clear message’

Leading the investigation, Detective Inspector Mark Hughes of North Wales Police said: “I am delighted with this sentence, which not only sends a very clear message to anyone considering such a crime, but also underlines our commitment to pursue those who commit burglary and bring misery to our communities.”