Hove burglars jailed

Three burglars have been jailed for breaking into properties in Hove.

Eliot Cahill, 20, of Clarendon Villas, Hove, John Kilpatrick, 42, of Goldstone Lane, Hove, and Kenneth Cheeseman, 26, of Wilmot Road, Shoreham, were sentenced at Hove Crown Court.

Kilpatrick was jailed for four years for burgling a house in Old Shoreham Road, Hove, and causing criminal damage to a property in Montefiore Road, Hove, on Monday 2 April.

He was arrested at the scene of the Old Shoreham Road burglary and Sussex Police said that detectives linked him to a spate of similar offences committed in Hove during April.

Cahill was jailed for two and a half years for a burglary in Shirley Street, Hove, on Tuesday 1 May. He was arrested on Saturday 5 May and charged the same day.

Cheeseman was jailed for two years for a burglary in Meadow Close, Hove, on Tuesday 22 May. He was arrested at the scene of the burglary and charged later that day.

Eliot Cahill, Kenneth Cheeseman and John Kilpatrick

The three, who stole laptops, mobile phones, cameras, cash, alcohol and tools, were sentenced on Friday (20 July).

Detective Inspector Clare Shiel said: “These sentences are a great result for all victims of burglaries who have been greatly affected by having their homes broken into and their personal items stolen.

“My officers will not leave any stone unturned in a bid to bring those responsible for these offences to justice.”

Sussex Police said that the number of burglaries had fallen 20 per cent over the past year, with Detective Inspector Shiel adding: “This reduction in burglary offences is due a number of reasons.

“In particular we have a targeted approach to the most prolific offenders by working alongside our partners to address the causes of the offending behaviour whether it is due to substance abuse, housing issues, employment or financial hardship.

“This is all done alongside robust policing and the integration of our neighbourhood policing teams in order to advise home owners on crime prevention techniques.

“Those who persist in committing burglaries will be brought before the courts and will expect substantial sentences as evidenced from last Friday’s court results.”