Cheltenham man jailed to six years for burglary spree
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Former Cheltenham resident Elliot Harris has been sentenced to six years in prison after committing a series of 20 burglaries and thefts in Cirencester and Cheltenham.
Harris, aged 28, was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on Wednesday, October 11, with charges of ten house burglaries, one attempted dwelling burglary, and nine thefts.
Harris, a former resident of Hester’s Way, Cheltenham, admitted to seven charges listed in the indictment and requested that an additional 13 offences be considered during his sentencing.
Harris’s defence attorney, Steven Young, revealed that Harris also consumed drugs. While he was not a consistent or frequent drug user, he turned to drugs when he felt it was necessary. When he experienced a traumatic event, he resorted to drugs to cope.
“This spree of burglaries began in December but were not detected until he was serving a prison sentence for similar offending in March this year. He was arrested on the day he was released on June 21, 2023, and charged with the burglary,” said Young.
“He was bailed with a condition not to return to Cheltenham and was given accommodation in Gloucester, but this meant he was sharing a property with other drug users, so he decided to leave and make himself homeless.”
List of crimes
According to Prosecutor Caitlin Evans, Harris committed the first burglary on December 13, 2022, in a residence in Cheltenham. The property was ransacked, resulting in the theft of sentimental jewellery items and cash from a wallet.
On July 13, 2023, Harris was reported to have taken laundry pods and washing capsules valued at £54.99 from a Tesco store in Cheltenham. Three days later, he allegedly took an electric pedal cycle valued at £1,000, which belonged to an older man and was left outside a shop briefly.
On July 28, Harris attempted a burglary at a house in Queen Street, Cirencester, while the female homeowner was occupied at the back of the property. She heard a loud noise and reportedly found Harris, armed with a hammer, smashing a kitchen window. The broken window incurred a repair cost of £2,500.
On the same day, he broke into another property on City Bank Road, Cirencester, while the owner was on vacation.
Aside from those mentioned above, Harris was also allegedly guilty of having burglarised two more homes in Cirencester. He gained entry by breaking windows in both cases.
“When he was caught by police officers, he was found in possession of some of the items that had been stolen that day,” said Evans.
Traumatised victims
Judge Rupert Lowe said Harris had “shattered these homeowners’ confidence in their own security” with fear of the burglar returning to their houses.
“These homeowners you burgled have had their lives seriously interrupted with not only the theft but the cost of rectifying the damage and increase in insurance premiums,” said Lowe.
Non-profit organisation Victim Support said that burglary victims often endure trauma that extends beyond financial losses. Their emotional well-being and sense of security can be significantly impacted. The presence of an intruder in their homes can feel violating, leading some to self-blame for lapses in security.
Hiring a professional security agency, like Marengo, can reduce the risk of burglary for homeowners with high-net-worth items. These agencies offer expertise in assessing vulnerabilities, tailoring personalised security solutions, and implementing them to keep your homes safe from burglars and other opportunists.
