Burglar is jailed for OAP home raid

Bobby Arrowsmith, 23, of Macclesfield Road, Buxton, broke into the woman’s home in the middle of the night and stole jewellery, much of which was of sentimental value to her, and a handbag.

The terrified victim, who is in her late 80s, even woke up at one point during the burglary, which happened on February 2.

DC Laura Weston, of Buxton CID, said: “It was an elderly victim who was in bed when it happened. He went into her bedroom and stole some sentimental jewellery in the middle of the night.

“She was really upset. Some of the jewellery which was taken meant quite a lot to her but it wouldn’t mean anything to anyone else and it probably wouldn’t sell for much. It was jewellery she had had for a long time and had links to her late husband.”

DC Weston added: “She seems to be coping with it well, she’s a strong individual. Waking up to find a burglar in her flat must have been horrendous. I just hope that she can take some comfort from the sentence he has been given.

“The judge obviously took the circumstances into consideration, she was at home, she was in bed, she was an elderly female living on her own and a number of sentimental items were stolen from her.

“This is a good example of the sentences that judges are willing to give out when people commit such serious crimes.

“Hopefully this will be a message to other people out there who are involved in that sort of criminality and might make them think twice.”

Part of Arrowsmith’s sentence was also for theft from a motor vehicle on February 11 from Hall Bank, Buxton.