Three men received prison sentences for a series of burglaries in Ashington and Newbiggin, Northumberland.

Father and son Nigel and Peter Gaffney, 56 and 33, along with Karl Bye, 36, broke into several residences in Ashington and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea on July 20 and 21, 2023. All three pleaded guilty to multiple charges and were sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on February 28, 2024.

During the spree, the three men stole three vehicles. One of the vehicles was found burnt out, while another was used to flee after the burglaries. 

The Gaffneys were arrested after police pursued the third stolen vehicle from a caravan park in the county Durham area. The vehicle was spotted driving dangerously down the A1 towards Durham, and after the pursuit, police located and detained the pair.

Bye was arrested the next day in possession of a stolen mobile phone and other valuables.

Encouragement for vigilance

Peter, residing in Newbiggin with no fixed abode, was sentenced to 46 months in prison after admitting to four counts of burglary, one count of theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving while disqualified and uninsured, and failure to provide samples for analysis.

Peter’s father, Nigel, who lives on Percy Street in Ashington, received a 12-month sentence. He pleaded guilty to one count of burglary, one count of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, and one count of assault.

Meanwhile, Bye, from Rosalind Street in Ashington, was sentenced to 57 months in jail. Bye admitted to five counts of burglary, one count of theft of a motor vehicle, and one count of criminal damage. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to one count of theft, driving without insurance, and failing to provide samples for analysis.

Detective Constable Jon Mullen of Northumbria Police remarked that the individuals would spend a significant amount of time in prison for their reckless actions.

“In this case, many people were caused stress and unrest as a result of this reckless spate of crimes. I would like to praise the efforts of the teams involved in apprehending the three men,” Mullen said.

“We hope it goes some way to giving the victims in this case a degree of closure. We would also encourage people to continue to remain vigilant by locking doors and windows and report any suspicious behaviour or criminal activity.”

Repeat offender targets

Nigel is a repeat offender with 176 previous convictions. In one instance, he targeted a golf club steward. Breaking into her home, he stole her car and house keys, leaving her terrified.

The woman, alone in her bed, was awakened by the sound of Gaffney rustling in her house and starting her Renault Clio. Gaffney, who lives just 400 metres from the club she worked at, climbed through a window using a bucket.

Caught by his fingerprints left on the living room window, the 47-year-old burglar, who began offending at 11, was jailed. The woman expressed fear, saying that the incident had really scared her and had even made her consider leaving her job.

“I’m very afraid to stay in the premises alone because I was sleeping alone in bed when he broke in,” she said. “I don’t know what may have happened if he had come into the bedroom.”

According to prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw, the victim first noticed her bedroom door was open and saw that a window in the living room was also open. She then realised her car was being taken, and as the car started up, her CD player began to play. 

The victim reported the burglary to the police, who spotted the stolen Renault near Lynemouth at 5.45 AM. Nigel had left the car near a skip at Alcan and ran away. He was arrested later and initially denied involvement until fingerprint evidence was presented. 

The then-47-year-old was already on a suspended prison sentence for a 2013 burglary. Nigel received a two-year jail term after confessing to the break-in and violating his earlier sentence.

Burglaries often leave a deep impact on victims. They often feel feelings of violation, insecurity, and vulnerability that can persist for months or years. Residents concerned about their security can turn to private security services like Marengo for added protection and peace of mind. Marengo offers professional security solutions tailored to individual needs, helping residents secure their homes and deter potential intruders.